SOCI 333 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Primitive Communism, Surplus Product, Productive Forces

• School: University of Calgary
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOCI 333
• Professor: Dean Curran

Document Summary

Aim of making claims that apply beyond specific cases. Theory: based on interpretation rather than empirical info. Criticisms: abstraction distorts reality, empirical must be attached. Social analysis: in terms of collections of individuals. Totalizing theory of society: context determine life conditions. Some development tools owned by lord, labour unfree. Ideology: ruling class ideals form intellectual force/production of ideas. Relations of production "fit" existing forces of production. Productive forces develop to the extent that future progress is impeded. Contradictions between forces of production & social relations. Dialectical result: emerging class drives a change in relations of production, do not impede productive potential of society. Feudal labour had to be freed from bondage to work in factories, increased production. Capitalist ownership creates gap between productive power of society/actuality, so much shift to communism to increase production. Natural state of human beings is to objectify abilities. Occurs through labour - interaction between society & nature.