A Comparative Analysis on the Socio-Cultural Theories of Marx Essay Example for Free

A Comparative Analysis on the Socio-Cultural Theories of Marx Essay Over the years, the names Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, Max Weber, and Friedrich Nietzsche have been very dominant in the field of sociology, psychology, economics, and politics. In discussing the concepts of communism and materialism, the theories of Karl Marx cannot be disregarded. For Marx, the major influential factor in human history is economics (Cline 2008). According to Marx, even in the past, people were not moved by ostentatious ideas but rather by material things that helped them live and survive. Marx’s studies and theories also deal with explaining the roots of the collision of classes—the wealthy and labour classes. The conflict between the wealthy and labour classes became inevitable because of the rise of capitalism. Due to capitalism, there has been a separation between these two classes. The wealthy continue to own properties and acquire labourers as modern slaves to work for them in their businesses, while the labourers continue to struggle for what little they have, and they have to work day and night just to survive. It is also because of capitalism that the scarcity of resources has increased, and this made the conflict between the classes even worse. For Marx, everything is built upon the foundations of economics. All the prominent social and economic institutions as well as other organizations can only be understood well if they will be associated with economics. Moreover, Marx expressed that oftentimes, people tend to think that their ideas actually root from truth, beauty, love and other grand concepts, but in actuality, those ideas are from class interest and class conflict (Cline 2008). On the other hand, as compared to Marx, Emile Durkheim was better known for his studies of the communication process in relation to sociological analyses. The main idea of Durkheim’s theory notes that the civilization of human beings is a result of communication (Book Rags 2008). Their psychological nature becomes cultural forces, and the material and economic life becomes the community and the society. Aside from this, Durkheim also became a prominent figure in the field of sociology. He explained the nature of the society with an evolutionary approach, regarding society as an organism that has a specific structure and function (University of Regina 2002). According to Durkheim, although a society is composed of individuals, he pinpointed that a society is not simply a sum of individuals; rather, it has an identity and existence of its own that is different from the individuals that are part of it. He further added that it is the society that is influencing the individuals through norms, social facts, sentiments, and social currents, rather than the individuals influencing the society as a whole. Durkheim’s sociological ideas also posed a concern towards social order. He tried to find out how a modern society remains intact given people’s differences, individualism, and autonomy of individuals (University of Regina 2002). Eventually, Durkheim was able to find the answer and explained it in his book, ‘The Division of Labour in Society’. In the book, Durkheim defined and explained the concepts of social solidarity, common consciousness, and systems of law which he also connected to the idea of forced division of labour. However, he claimed that such forces in the society will not always be effective in creating solidarity. Thus, there will be disruptions in solidarity and consciousness because of the social changes. This chain of ideas introduces the concept of anomie or suicide, which Durkheim considered as a naturally occurring phenomenon in every society. Durkheim also expressed his ideas about social action. In explaining this concept, he took the structuralist approach. He considered the social structures to exert a strong influence on social action (University of Regina 2002). He believed that the collective thoughts, beliefs, practices, and consciousness of individuals can indeed make a difference in a lot of ways. Max Weber shared the same position as Marx in terms of alienation in relation to former’s views about the inevitable rationalisation and bureaucratisation of the world (The Hewett School n. d. ). Both of them agreed that it was the modern methods of organisation which drastically increased the effectiveness and efficiency of production. Both of them also concurred that these modern methods paved the way for the exceptional domination of man over nature. They also shared the same opinion of the modern world with such rationalized efficiency—that it threatens to transform into a monstrous being and dehumanize its creators (The Hewett School n. d. ). However, Weber opposed Marx’s claim that alienation is only a transitional stage towards man’s true liberation. Ha also denied that inevitable characteristic of socialism. Previously, Marx noted that capitalism caused the lowering of the worker class in the mode of production. However, Weber argued that this situation cannot be avoided in a rationally coordinated system. Weber further added that men cannot participate in socially significant actions anymore unless they join a larger organization. It is through these organizations that men get to sacrifice their own goals and desires for the sole aim and objective of the organization. Thus, people get to take off a part of them and therefore get to be alienated. Lastly, Friedrich Nietzsche was known in his arguments about the core and foundations of morality. Unlike Marx, Durkheim, and Weber, Nietzsche’s theories are more inclined to morality, and he was more into arguing for concepts that relate to religion. However, his theories posted a huge significance in the fields of sociology, economics, and politics as well. His moral philosophy is primarily critical in orientation. With his philosophy, he attacked morality both for its commitment to weak descriptive claims about human action and also for the adverse impact of its distinctive norms and values on the budding higher types of human beings—or what he calls the ‘higher men’ (uberman) (Zalta 2007). This idea of higher men explains that, above all other motivations, human behaviour is motivated by the will to power. He also became known in his arguments regarding the foundations of traditional Christianity. For Nietzsche, the creativity and realities of the world are more important than any consideration of any worlds beyond (UK Apologetics 2007). Aside from this, he also had several beliefs which proved his interest to challenge the tradition and beliefs of Christianity. Nietzsche believed that the goal of a human’s life must be to find his/her true self and not to help others. He also believed that sexuality does not really oppose virtues; rather, it is a virtue in its own right. Furthermore, he also argued that the highest virtue an individual can have is to be true to him- or herself. Thus, Nietzsche’s ideas can be observed to have a sense of selfishness. However, it can be explained that he has this kind of belief since his exposure and genre are that which believe in the power of the human will alone and not of any greater being. Upon analyzing the theories and theorists mentioned above, I observed that all their ideas contribute a lot to the developments of the society nowadays. The first three theorists dwell more on the economic side. They explained the effects of capitalism, social classes, and the harmony of relationships within a society. On the other hand, Nietzsche observed the moral part which the first three theorists seemed to have overlooked. Looking at our modern society now, everything seems affected by multimedia. If only Marx, Durkheim, Weber, and Nietzsche still exist today, they might probably look at multimedia as one of the most powerful forces that has the ability to shape a society. However, relating their theories to the modern concepts of multimedia today, Durkheim’s concepts seem to have the greatest relevance to it. This is because Durkheim regarded communication as a shaping factor of civilization. By this, he meant that communication (which includes multimedia nowadays) is one of the forces that pave the way for human organization (Book Rags 2008). Communication or multimedia in the modern perspective can also be interpreted—using Durkheim’s view—as the mould which makes or shapes a society. Thus, a society without the practice of communication cannot be considered a civilized society (Book Rags 2008). Putting this into modern context, a society without the practice of multi-media—which can be considered as one of the most powerful means of communication at present—is a society which has not yet reached development. List of References Cline, A. (2008). ‘Religion as Opium of the People’. About. com [online]. Available from http://atheism. about. com/od/philosophyofreligion/a/marx. htm? p=1 [29 October 2008] Book Rags (2008). Durkheim, Emile (1858-1917) [online]. Available from http://www. bookrags. com/research/durkheim-mile-1858-1917-eci-01/#bro_copy [29 October 2008] The Hewett School (n. d. ). Weber and Marx [online]. Available from http://www. hewett. norfolk. sch. uk/CURRIC/soc/WEBER/wm. htm [29 October 2008] University of Regina (2002). Conservative Approaches [online]. Available from http://uregina. ca/~gingrich/s16f02. htm [29 October 2008] Zalta, E. Ed. (2007). ‘Nietzsche’s Moral and Political Philosophy’. Stanford Encyclopaedia of Philosophy [online]. Available from http://plato. stanford. edu/entries/nietzsche-moral-political/ [29 October 2008] UK Apologetics (2007). Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) [online]. Available from http://www. ukapologetics. net/truthaboutnietzsche. html [29 October 2008]

The United States Constitution Compared to the Communist Manifesto Essa

The United States Constitution Compared to the Communist Manifesto Both the Communist Manifesto and the United States Constitution share some common ideas. They are documents that strive for ideas that in opposition to one another. The Communist Manifesto and The Constitution of the United States both include what the relationship between an individual and society should be about. Karl Marx and Frederick Engels wrote the Communist Manifesto. Marx and Engels talked about in the Communist Manifesto what they thought to be the way to solve the problems in the world during that time. Those problems dealt with society, but mainly the poor. They thought that people during those times were too dependent on money and how much of it they made. They wrote the manifesto in hopes to change society. The form of government they used to do this was by way of the Communist Party. "The Communists, therefore, are on the one hand, practically, the most advanced and resolute section of the working-class parties of every country"[i] Within the Communist Party e veryone is equal, and all property belongs to the state. The Constitution of the United States on the other hand was written to restrict the amount of power the government could have. It allows people to have property unlike the Communist Manifesto. Within the Constitution, it is stipulated that the people have control over how much power the government has. According to the first amendment in the Constitution, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grieva... ...heir own liberty and freedom. The idea of what liberty and freedom are is discussed quite differently within the two documents. The constitution calls for democracy, where an individual can have the right to choose what they want their role in society to be. The manifesto helps to explain communism, in which the government decides for each person what his or her role in society is. Notes [i] â€Å"The Communist Manifesto† http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/treatise/communist_manifesto/mantwo.htm [ii] The United States Constitution† http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.billofrights.html#amendmenti [iii] â€Å"The Communist Manifesto† http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/treatise/communist_manifesto/manone.htm [iv] â€Å"The Communist Manifesto† http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/treatise/communist_manifesto/mantwo.htm

Human Behavior in the Organization in Global Perspective Essay

â€Å"Does other theories developed by the foreign managerial experts are applicable in the Philippines Settings?† Human behavior in the organization had these so many theories that are developed in order to help managers and leaders utilize human individual efforts exerted to actualize goals and future desired state of the organization or company. With this, human behavior in the organization is not only limited to those countries that had developed some effective and well proven theories, it is also the basis of the other countries having trouble in managerial process of handling individual differences. So, a global sharing and giving information about the theories was executed in order to help those undeveloped countries in terms of economic status whereby, it is believed that with these theories, it could be the key for a undeveloped country to attain desired economic status. Undeveloped countries may also be pertain to the countries trying to be in the middle class countries where there is an observed desired for knowledge and information on how to make managerial skills of the persons who are in the authority to be developed or enhance. Philippines is one of those countries who is indeed, in need of these information, but the question is – â€Å"does these theories truly fit or suit here in the Philippines?† Theories are basically the systematic grouping of interdependent concepts and principles that gives a framework to a significant area of knowledge. While in designing an effective organizational structure, there are a number of principles and concepts that are interrelated and that have a predictive value for managers. The importance of theory is to provide a means of classifying significant and pertinent management information and knowledge. Theories constitute the belief system and management orientations that, consequently, affect the organization. With this, the Filipino managers and leaders had a hard time to formulate an effective pattern of processes and procedures based on the theories of other countries. It been observed that an individual’s needs are the main characters that plays the biggest role on the motivating and moving people to exert their efforts on the job. speaking of motivation, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is one of the famous and had been said to be effective on the companies and international organizations. Well, here in the Philippines, it is also observed but, it is not been fully utilized and understand by those who manages the Philippines System today. Just to illustrate, the first stage on the hierarchy of needs is the physiological needs that indicate the basic needs for sustaining life such as food, water, air, and shelter. This stage is being given full attention by Filipinos, because as part of our culture, we tend to give everything just to make sure the survival of our family members and also, we tend to extend it as giving everything that would make us feel comfortable as we live our lives. The second stage is the security needs, where it is the stage of which indicates the needs to be free from any danger, loss of job, and deprivation. The Philippine society, especial on those places where crimes are rampant, individuals are in full alert to avoid danger. Also, we Filipinos give value to our jobs. As being observed, only few have their jobs so they do whatever it takes just to make sure that they will stay holding that job given to him or her. The third stage is the affiliation or acceptance needs which include the thought of us, as human being, are social. This stage discusses the value of an individual and it is recognize by his companions and superiors. In the Philippines, respect is well observed as to the organizational processes and procedures being done inside a certain organization. Meaningful inter-personal relation is one our strengths as Filipinos where we have the characteristics of helping others and respecting their personal decisions and acts. The other 2 stages are being observed on few people inside an organization where they had their own ways of fulfilling the first 3 needs introduced by Maslow in his Hierarchy of Needs. Maslow’s theory discusses an individual as to his or her birth, potentials are present. The potential for psychological growth and health is present in every person at birth. The theory targets the individual’s motivational factors that drive the individual to do well in his or her particular job. Filipinos, are more likely the persons who are being motivated by social acceptance and love. Filipinos are fan of relating their own experiences and letting their companions feel that he, who is relating his life to the organization’s condition, trust his companions and seeking for understanding and acceptance to them. Another theory is the Skinner Operant Theory that indicates the human needs are the determinant to human behavior. Burrhaus Frederick Skinner. He believed that â€Å"the environment determines the individual behavior event if he alters the environment.† The workers can be motivated by properly creating the work environment and providing rewards or stimulus for desirable worker’s performance. It is the external environment that influences the behavior people exhibit rather than their external needs, wants, and desires. In this theory, rewards or any positive reinforces of a certain behavior are found to be more powerful than the negative and neutral reinforces, even if both sets of reinforces may be used. Since the Philippines is composed of various kinds of ethnic groups, cultural mores, dialects, regional peculiarities, religious beliefs and value system, it is difficult to say what kind of behavioral style or attitudinal orientation will best fit the prevailing environment of a Filipino organization. Culture really made innovative measures of managers difficult to prosper here in the Philippines where it should be done as it is being highly needed by the different Philippine organizations. Culture is being the hindrance of globalization especially in terms of process that may affect the human work behavior that will produce unnecessary organizational behavior. Globally accepted processes and behavioral patterns are considered to be unnecessary to adopt by the Filipino managers and leader whereby they take as infestation of our customs. Filipino traditional approach on motivating their subordinates as to which, they attack from the heart. Give importance to the things that an individual’s want and love. Also, Filipinos managers must know the abilities and capabilities of a certain work group in order for him or her to maximize the skills of the individual inside that work group. Dealing with the problems that can be a hindrance to productiveness of an individual is one thing that manager must do in order for him or her to gain respect and gain recognition of his or her efforts as the manager. Filipinos managers must show their interest to hear and take some actions regarding the problems and issues raised by the formal or informal work groups. Touching the atmosphere of work environment that the subordinates are experiencing every single day is one of the examples of making sure that you are to understand the work behavior of a specific group of subordinates in the organization. A single interest could be one of the factors why a specific group is formed. With this, the management should know about that interest and then convert it into a motivational form and introduced it to the subordinate in able for the management to get the attention of that work group and then you start on making some developing steps in order for that group to be productive. Motivation is the driving force that pushes an individual to perform acts towards the execution of his or her job. Work group is very essential for it could be the greatest factor of organizations productivity. The actions towards the job compromise the behaviors that are innate to the workers. Managers are bound to create motivational plans for every each one of his or her subordinates. Motivations are defined by needs. Effective work group is not just about the productivity itself, it is also about the development each member of the group by attaining their individual’s goals and aspirations. Managements are bound to define the motivational factors of a work group in order to respond on their needs that will result to the expected productivity. Management productivity is defined as the ratio of inputs and outputs of the managerial process being done. The management who knows how a person works and what is the forces that keeps him on doing a good job performance is a good management. Work group behaviors should be a right shape in order to classify these behaviors as effective. Making some efforts of redirecting behaviors that are essential and not properly used by the person will definitely help you to lead the work group into success. Organizational theory affirms that motivation is a matter of organizing jobs according to prevalent needs as related to situation, which if properly carried out results in efficient job structure and consequent favorable job attitudes. Theories from foreign lands are just the basis of what we have now the Filipino Management where inter-personal relationship and humanitarian way treating subordinates are the main focus. The relationship of people within the organization, the feelings people have about the structure they placed to work in, and the input of these feelings on their work are of outmost importance. With this, the manager should make adjustment on giving the subordinates motivations that can lead to effective work group behavior. Formulating our own way to management our own working potentials, environment, motivational factors and conditions will surely make us realize and actualized desired goals, our own goals as Filipinos.

The Effects Of Video Games On Our Children - 1627 Words

Video games have been accused of contributing too many acts of violence or aggression for decades. What the media misses is that video games have many benefits we haven’t found in any other media. Society should stop being afraid of video games and instead start looking forward to how we can best use them to benefit ourselves and our children. Anyone who doesn’t understand why needs only take a quick look at our society. Per a survey, â€Å"90% of children in the United States play video games and 70% of heads of households play video games, too. That leads to the average age of video gamers to be 33 years old† (Bavelier 21). Society is changing and non-gamers are being left behind. Playing video games have good effects on our brains such as improvement in basic visual processes, improvements in attention and vigilance, improvements in executive functioning, improvements in job-related skills, and improves thinking process. Firstly, playing video games improves o ur basic visual processes. In brief, it improves visual contrast sensitivity and provides successful treatment of amblyopia. For instance, â€Å"Fifty hours of action video game play (spread over ten to twelve weeks) improved visual contrast sensitivity (the ability to distinguish subtle differences in shades of gray) compared to controls† (Burnsed 23). Furthermore, Amblyopia (also called â€Å"lazy eye†) is a disorder arising from early childhood in which one eye becomes essentially non-functional. As an illustration, BavelierShow MoreRelatedThe True Cause Of Violent Behaviors1613 Words   |  7 Pages(Fletcher). Nine out of the top ten selling games have been labeled as violent and 42% of adolescents play them (â€Å"Children and Video Games†). These violent video games are a major problem in the United States and across the globe. 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