Sociology 401
Sociological Theory
Fall 2001
Dr. Scott Schaffer

Week 10 Discussion Question: Marx, Grundrisse (MER pp. 221-293)

Reading Schedule Adjustments: Be sure to match the readings in Capitalism and Modern Social Theory to those listed here.

W Oct 24: MER pp. 7-15
F Oct 26: MER pp. 26-53, 143-145

M Oct 29: MER pp. 26-53
W Oct 31: MER pp. 133-135, 221-293
F Nov 2: MER pp. 221-293

M Nov 5: Paper 3 handed out and discussed; MER pp. 221-293
W Nov 7: MER pp. 469-500
F Nov 9: MER pp. 522-542

M Nov 12: MER pp. 556-576
W Nov 14: Marx Closure Discussion – no reading
F Nov 16: Paper prep session – no reading

M Nov 19: PAPER 3 DUE at start of class; paper debriefing and transition session – no reading

Due Date: Wed Nov 7/2001.

1. The Grundrisse is an example of Marx’s multiple methods, which we have called “dialectical materialism.” Outline the ways in which Marx examines the structure of capitalism through historical materialism (i.e., the ways in which we produce ourselves and organize that production) and through the dialectic (i.e., the ways in which social forms produce their negations, come together, and produce a new social form through their conflict).

2. One part of Marx’s argument in Grundrisse is that the nature of capitalism is to expropriate the individual’s labor through the appearance of free exchange between worker and capitalist. Outline the way in which Marx develops this argument, remembering to include such aspects as the development of capital, the relationship between production and consumption and the nature of the wage relationship.

3. Marx discusses much of the nature of capitalism from a structural perspective, i.e., as a large-scale historical process that organizes productive relations for us. To what extent does Marx’s depiction of the development of capitalism allow for a conception of structure?

4. (Short and sweet.) Given what you have read from Marx so far, what do you think his conception of justice would be? Why?

5. Convey the meaning of this quotation sentence for sentence by rewriting it in the form of a series of questions.

“In no way does the machine appear as the individual worker’s means of labour. Its distinguishing characteristic is not in the least, as with the means of labour, to transmit the worker’s activity to the object; this activity, rather, is posited in such a way that it merely transmits the machine’s work, the machine’s action, on to the raw material – supervises it and guards against interruptions. Not as with the instrument, which the worker animates and makes into his organ with his skill and strenth, and whose handling therefore depends on virtuosity. Rather, it is the machine which possesses skill and strength in the mechanical laws acting through it; and it consumes coal, oil, etc., just as the worker consumes food to keep up its perpetual motion.” (Marx, The Grundrisse, p. 279)