SOC 100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Upper Middle Class, Asceticism, Frugality

• School: U of M
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOC 100
• Professor: Luis Felipe Sfeir- Younis

Document Summary

Karl marx thought of society as a boxing ring; constant struggle and conflict. Max weber was born later than karl marx; he read marx"s readings. He was acquainted with karl marx but he visited the midwest. Max weber didn"t believe in progress; societies were just different, not better. Max weber didn"t think communism was any better or worse than capitalism. He said that economics is very important and tells how society functions but not how it originated. Max weber said we should look at religion. Max weber said religion precedes economics and has an enormous capacity to transform our societies. The protestant ethic and the rise of capitalism. The wealthiest nations in the world were the nations of western europe; they were largely protestant. There are many societies that have the pre-condition for capitalism but they never materialize into that. Max weber would say that the difference between pre-condition and materialization would be the religion.