One is a student only as far as one s actions in relation with the professor, and the professor as far as the student. These actions would include one going to class, taking notes, listening to the professor, taking exams and writing papers. These actions define one as a student and define Mr. X as a professor. Actions define who one is in society. For Weber this is where Marx failed to define who the proletariat are in relation to the others in society. Marx defines the proletariat in terms of their relation to the means of production, but not in their actions.
Marx was more concerned with the structure of society rather than the meaning. Marx had felt that it is this class structure which gave power to the classes. This term of class is used differently between Marx and Weber. For Marx the rise of capitalism was the result of the dialectic between the two classes. Weber, on the other hand, felt that once feudalism had been abolished so was the class system. Class in the feudal era was determined by one s blood line. If one were a serf then one s son or daughter would be born into the same class status. The same would hold true for any other social status. The next in line for the throne of the king is his first born son. With the rise of capitalism this distinct line between classes vanished. Weber, rather, saw class in capitalist society mainly in terms of a monopoly.
Weber viewed a monopoly as those who had the power to bargain. Those who have a monopoly are less eager to exchange goods. One s class situation is defined by there situation in the exchange market. Class is therefore determined by ones ability to exchange on the market. The possibilities of classes consist of ability to exchange and the kind of capital to be exchanged. This leaves the possibility for more than one class rather than two.
Marx and Weber may disagree about the rise of classes in a capitalist society, but they do have their similarities. Marx felt that history was based on the conflict between classes and this conflict would cause the downfall of capitalism. Weber does not agree that class conflict is what defines history, but he does state that a class is not a community but a possible basis for societal or even communal action (H.H. Gerth, C. Wright Mills).
People of a community or group may have individual interests, but they put those aside to work as a whole. When individuals act in a societal movement they may do different things, but they are acting in cooperation because in the end it will serve in their individual interests. Individuals act in cooperation with the group because it is the most rational way to serve their individual interests. This is very similar to Marx s view on a proletariat revolution in capitalist society.
Marx felt that the individuals in the proletariat would come together and revolt against the capitalist. Marx, however, did not feel that the proletariat would automatically come together because of their similar class. Rather, the people of the proletariat will come together in a common interest. They all realize that in the capitalist society they will always be exploited by the capitalists. So, the proletariat come together in a communal action for their individual interests. Each person takes part in the revolution in a attempt to better their individual lives.
Marx and Weber are two sociologist who both wanted to explain the rise of capitalism in western society. Weber had argued that Marx was too narrow in his views. Weber felt that Marx was only concerned with the economics in the rise of capitalism. Weber, on the other hand, tried to look at the macro-sociological phenomenon in his explanation of capitalism. Weber had felt that there is just more than one explanation to the rise of capitalism.
Regardless of their differences there are many similarities in the theories. The underlying theme in both of the theories is that capitalism rose from a personal society to a highly impersonal society. They both may have different reasons as to why capitalism rose, but they both agree as to what it became. Weber had felt that the impersonal system of capitalism was exemplified in the bureaucratic power. Marx saw the impersonal system in the alienation of the proletariat workers.
The writings of Weber leave the door open for the possibility for revolution in a capitalist society, but he does not directly speak of a revolution. Marx, although, speaks directly of a revolution and the self destruction of the capitalistic society. One of the factors in this revolution is the impersonal relations between the proletariat and the capitalist. The impersonality of capitalism, exemplified in the failure of the proletariat to feel meaningful in their work, fuels the movement for a revolution.
Weber was very concerned with this impersonal bureaucratic system and this was one of the reasons that he was compelled to study the rise of capitalism. He had seen the rise of the bureaucratic powers in western society, and Weber saw how society was becoming less and less personal. This is a problem in the capitalist society that both men had seen in the nineteenth century, and it is a problem that still exists today. People have lost a sense of community and gained the sense of individuality. The loss of personal relationships can lead to many internal problems in a society and possibly a downfall.
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