Social Theories

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer looks at the views of three theorists regarding different social issues. The writer discusses the views of Karl Marx, Max Weber and Emile Durkheim as they relate to labor, religion and the quality of life. The writer maintains that the main problems within modern society, as identified by the three theorists, is that the enjoyment of life in general is diminished by the separation of human beings from their labor, from each other, from their sense of wonder, and from basic norms of behavior. The writer concludes that according to the authors, the development of social and technological change has brought about the various ills experienced by the modern human being.

Outline:
Division of Labor
Religion According to Marx, Weber and Durkheim
Quality of Life: Alienation, Rationalization and Anomie

From the Paper:

"Specifically, each individual theorist applies his own theories and beliefs regarding society in order to explicate the phenomenon of religion and its meaning for society. According to Townsley, this does not diminish the importance of religion to the individual or to the bodies of believers adhering to them. The aim is not to negate religion or its necessity for believers, although many a preacher has held this opinion. Instead, theorists merely provide an objectivist view of the history of religion as it manifests itself in both historical and modern humanity."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Cox, Judy. An Introduction to Marx's Theory of Alienation. International Socialism, Issue 79, July 1998. http://pubs.socialistreviewindex.org.uk/isj79/cox.htm
• Deflem, Mathieu. Max Weber (1864-1920): The Rationalization of Society. Sept 2004. http://www.cas.sc.edu/socy/faculty/deflem/zClassics.htm
• Dunman, L. Joe. Emile Durkheim: The Division of Labor. 2003. http://durkheim.itgo.com/divisionoflabor.html
• Townsley, Jeramy. Marx, Weber and Durkheim on Religion. Aug. 2004. http://www.jeramyt.org/papers/sociology-of-religion.html

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