SOC323H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Instrumentalism, Collective Consciousness, Legal Positivism
Document Summary
Brought idea of social class and inequality in society. Mostly wrote about class and economics; used by others on criminology and sociology issues. Society consists of conflict, antagonism and exploitation. Critique rule of law- nature of class rule. Video: mitt romney on obama voters (youtube) Argues to understand the legal system, you have to look at the economic systems. Founds that laws were created to protect ownership (the elite) rather than the common good of society. Law as a tool of oppression used by capitalists to control proletariat. Law how it appears vs law how it is- may appear to be fair in writing (written in neutral terms) but the experience of law are geared towards the interests of the upper class. Crimes of the wealthy not punished to the same extent and not pursued in the same way. Maintaining the distinction between the working class and the owners.
