Can anyone simply explain to me max webers theory on class?

Question

and the similarities and differences to karl marxs' theory? i'm really stuck on my essay :( so far i understand that weber identified the middle classes whilst marx only had 2 classes but thats it lol

thanks to all, if any, answer

Answer 1

I had the exact same question when I was at Uni in the early 90s; shame I threw all my essays out a few year ago.

If I remember correctly the main difference between them is that Marx did not account for man's desire to better himself / social mobility etc, whereas Weber did calling them "life chances".

Why not let your friend Mr Wikipedia help you out?

Answer 2

Marx drew a two-way distinction between owners and workers.

Weber held that people with similar incomes, lifestyles and economic interests would tend to form recognisably distinct groups. That would imply there is no fixed number of classes - the number would depend upon the way each society was structured.

Marx also believed that ownership was the sole criterion for classifying people into classes. Weber believed that there were three criteria:

- income and wealth

- status.

- power.

In the long term, he held, these would be found together, as any of them could be used to obtain the others, but there would not be a perfect correlation between them (e.g. a millionaire pornographer might still have a low status, and a priest might have a low income but a high status).

Answer 3

unlike Marx who identified 2 classes, weber identified at least 4 classes which were the

propertied class

none propertied class

petit bourgeoisie

and the manual class

weber identified that society did need to work collectively and that society would benefit through individualism.

He determined that in order for an individual to achieve, it is up to he or she to take life chances.

Life chances are based on what weber determined as 'status situation or achieved status .

He believed that society consisted of a hierarchy of clearly defined roles that were filled by individuals selected on merit who were free and able to progress up the hierarchy.

He saw that an individuals class could depend on the possession of skills as well as property ownership and occupation.

Main point is that -

Everyone has life chances and can move up the hierchy should they want to achieve it.