SOC231H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Human Nature, Social Change, Dialectic
Document Summary
Hegel; idealism - the dialectic at the level of ideas. Reject the either or and combines in a skillful manner - elements of idealism exist in the world but combines with ideas of materialism. Explains that a certain social structure is needed with a little bit of both. Not pure idealism or pure materialism but complex combination. Constant social change through the resolution of contradictions. Relies on philosophy but rejects philosophy practiced for its own sake. Philosophy and the study of the actual world have the same relation to one another as onanism and sexual love". Focus on the actual social world and social change. Marx is a radical thinker; thinks of the root of the issue. Human nature; infinitely perfectible - makes humans indifferent because society comes first which causes humans to get competitive and have these kind of characteristics. Mark; neutral, analytical take on human nature (not a matter of humans being either good, evil, power-hungry, etc. )
