classical sociologists

classical

sociologists

Beverly B. Baldovino

MAT GST

Overview

will introduce you to three key
classical sociologists.

will briefly go over the
backgrounds and worldviews
of the theorists.

Then, we will look at their main
contributions to sociological
theory.

Karl Marx

Émile Durkheim

Max Weber

List of classical

sociological theorists

Sociology, like many other disciplines, is built on the work of its

founding fathers.

Karl Marx

(1818-1883)

Concern for the poverty
and inequality of working
class

Marxism - a conflict theory
that positions capitalism as
the root of modern-day
oppression.

The Bourgeoisie

the capitalist class who owns the means of production and private property.

The Petty Bourgeoisie

the owners of small businesses.

The Proletariat
the working class who own nothing but their means of labour, which they sell for
wages to the bourgeoisie.

The

Lumpenproletariat

the dropouts, vanguards, and criminals who comprise the “bottom” layer of society.
They are sometimes referred to as the underclass.

Social Classes

Marx differentiates between different social classes that have emerged

under capitalism

Émile Durkheim

Functionalism

Contributed to sociology is social
solidarity.

David Émile Durkheim (1857-1917)

SOCIAL FACTs

Social solidarity is the necessary process
of making individuals feel as though they
are integrated into society.

Social Solidarity

SOCIAL SOLIDARITY

Max Weber

(1864-1920)

Social Stratification
-wealth
-power

Unlike Marx, Weber did not believe
class distinctions arose entirely out
of economic
distinctions/ownership.
He suggested that skills and
qualifications also contributed to
an individual's class position.

Social Class

Key Classical
Sociologists

Sociology like many other
disciplines builds on the work
of the founding fathers.

Karl Marx’s work was primarily
written during the 19th century
during a time which is known
as the industrial revolution.
Émile Durkheim and Max
Weber wrote later in the late
19th century to the early 20th
century.

Key Classical
Sociologists

Marx saw the relationship
between the classes as based
upon exploitation. In order to
make a profit, the bourgeoisie
must exploit all the classes
below them particularly, the
proletariat who work for a
salary.

According to Durkheim, the
education system benefits
society in a number of ways.
One way is it builds social
solidarity through the formal
and hidden curriculum.

Key Classical
Sociologists

Weber did not believe class
distinctions were primarily
based upon economic
distinctions/ownership. He
also believed that skills and
qualifications contributed to
an individual's class position.

Thank you for

listening!