Sociology 401
Sociological Theory
Fall 2001
Dr. Scott Schaffer

Discussion Questions, Week Nine: Marx, pp. 7-15, 26-53, 133-35, 143-45 (Recommended: CMST pp. 1-17)

Due Date: Fri Nov 2/2001.

1. What is the relationship Marx lays out in “On the Jewish Question” between political rights and civil rights? Between political society and civil society?

2. What does Marx mean by “emancipation”? Why does he argue that the emancipation of Jews in Germany is impossible? What are the distinctions between the kind of emancipation he sees “the Jews” calling for and the kind of emancipation he envisions?

3. What is Marx’s position on religion? Why do you think he takes this position?

4. Discuss Marx’s version of immanent critique. How does this relate to the arguments he makes in “On the Jewish Question,” the “Theses on Feuerbach,” and “Wage Labour and Capital”?

5. Discuss the differences between “idealism” and “materialism” as approaches to social science. Why do you think Marx emphasizes materialism as the proper approach?

6. The eleventh of Marx’s “Theses on Feuerbach” claims that “the philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways; the point, however, is to change it.” Discuss this in relation to the other works you’ve read for this week.

7. In what ways does Marx combine social analysis with moral judgment in the writings we’ve read for this week? What reasons do you think Marx has for engaging in this kind of analysis? To what extent do you find this type of social theory to be effective in conveying one’s points? To what extent do you agree with what Marx has to say in this set of readings?