SOC 104 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Social Conflict, Lean Manufacturing, Profit Maximization

• School: Ryerson University
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOC 104
• Professor: Rebecca Lock

Document Summary

In the marketplace, under the logic of capitalism, we are pursuing our own self-interest. Seller: sell the least amount of the highest price = more profit. Buyer: the biggest amount at the lowest cost = better value for money (profit) We should add: consumers largely think with the same logic. Owner"s profit is realized if the worker is paid less than the labour is. Profits increase if worker wages are kept low, while fewer worker work. The worker and owner are in conflict about where profit goes (but both want profit for their part in the commodities) There is also conflict between owners for profit (but all share a value of the structure) Work as central to life and who we are. Alienation: separation between the worker and their labour and all this. Loss of control over process, product and the surplus value created. Work in this system recreates economic inequality and dehumanizes.