Theories of Inequality

Two of the most influential theorists in regards of social inequality are Karl Marx and Max Weber. These two people created two of the most famous theories in social inequality. However, some people say the best way to understand, why and how a person thinks the way they do, is based on their biography. Thusly, I must now tell you about the biography of Karl Marx and Max Weber.

Karl Marx, was born on May 5, 1818 in Trier, Germany. He was 1 child out of 9, to his very successful lawyer of a father. Both of his parents were Rabbis masters and teachers. As for education, he was an average student until he was 12. Then, from 1830-1835, he went to Jesuit High School, despite the fact it was under surveillance and was raided in 1832. Then, when he graduated in 1835, Marx began studying at the University of Bonn. The University had a very rebellious and lively culture, which Marx was gravely influenced by. In his first two semesters, he was imprisoned for drunkenness and disturbing the peace, incurred debts, and participation in a duel. At the end of his year at the University, his father enlisted him into the University of Berlin, where he studied Law and Philosophy. Then, a couple years later, he was enlisted into the University of Jena, where he earned his Doctorate Degree in 1841. Then on the 14th of March, 1803, Marx passed away in London, England.

Max Weber, was born on April 21, 1864 in Erfurt, Germany. His father was also a successful lawyer, just in more specifically politics, and because his mother preferred a more ascetic lifestyle, there were some complications in their marriage, which affected Weber. Along with this, the household he lived in, was full of prominent intellectuals and lively discourse, an environment where Weber thrived. Growing up, he was bored with school and disdained his teachers, but devoured classic literatures on his own. After, graduating high school, Weber studied Law, History, Philosophy, and Economics for 3 semesters at Heidelberg University in 1882, before spending a year in the military. When he resumed his studies in 1884, he went to the University of Berlin and then spent another year at Gottingen. Finally, he passed the Bar Exam in 1886, earned his Ph.D in 1889, completed his Habilitation Thesis, which allowed him to obtain a position at academia.

Now to start us off on theories, Karl Marx. Now his social inequality theory was that society was divided up between the rich and poor, the business owners and workers, the Bourgeoisie and the Proletariat. Now the wealthy, who were usually the business owners back in his time, were thought to have all the power in society, because they were wealthy. Power over the economy, education, law, and politics. Due to this they were able to trick the poor to work for them and exploit them, and then giving them only low pay in return, so the rest of the money would go back to themselves and make them more wealthy, giving them more power in society. Whereas the poor, who were barely living off their small pay, were continuously taken advantage of buy the rich, and not given any sort of power in their life, unable to ever become wealthy. Now, Marx also hypothesised that one day the poor workers would see how their being exploited, then they would unite and rise up in a global revolution to make everything equal to everyone. However, this idea in particular would not come to pass, ever.

Now for Max Weber's social inequality theory. Now he also believed that power is what divided up society, like Marx. However, he did not believe that power was decided by wealth, but instead prestige or the respect earned by people from others. So instead of just the rich having all the power, it was the people most respected, who had the power. Now the most respected people can still mean the rich, but it can be the poor as well, it really depends on your athletic and or intellectual abilities. The only reason it can still be considered an inequality, after the fact that this allows everyone to have some sort of power in life is because, sometimes people aren't given the respect they truly deserve, after all their hard work, because we still can't help but look down on them. This leaves them with so little respect, that they don't get any power in their life.

After, examining these two theories, I have come to agree with one of them. I agree with Max Weber, simply because I believe that power is derived from more than just wealth, but prestige. Along with the fact that the people, we give no power or prestige are the ones, who may deserve it the most, but because we can't help but look down on them, they never get either. This to me, is what makes society unequal.

Sites: for further information

http://www.sparknotes.com/sociology/social-stratification-and-inequality/section4/page/2/

http://www.biography.com/people/max-weber-9526066#synopsis

http://www.biography.com/people/karl-marx-9401219

http://www.notablebiographies.com/Ma-Mo/Marx-Karl.html

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Max-Weber-German-sociologist