This paper integrates material and ideological conditions.
Course Description
In this course we will take an interdisciplinary approach to understanding “self”, “culture”, and “society”. We will look at contributions from anthropology, economics, political science, psychology and sociology, which examine the experience of self, social order, work, gender, race, popular culture, and nature. Students will be encouraged to bring the course material to bear on how we understand our world and ourselves in the present and to consider the implications of this worldview for the future. Note that this is a “Foundations” course, which means that there is a focus on critical skills: reading, thinking, listening, speaking and writing.
ESSAY TOPIC
NOTE: This paper integrates material and ideological conditions. Be sure to balance the two in your paper.
Avoid the mistake of placing more emphasis on material conditions simply because they involve three authors.
It may help to think of the paper as 40% on ideological conditions.
Material Conditions
Polanyi refers to the emergence of market society as “the great transformation” (Polanyi, Kit #16). Discuss what
characterizes market society and show why this transformation is so significant. Include a few points about how
market society differs from the structures of previous social organizations in order to stress the importance of
this development (Heilbroner, Kit #15 and Polanyi, Kit#16). Also, present some of the changes that take place
in the workplace (Rinehart, Kit #17).
Ideological Conditions
Describe the worldview of people in market society according to Weber. Discuss this in terms of the connection
between the “Protestant work ethic” and the “spirit of capitalism” (Weber summarized by Bendix, Kit #18).
Explain the importance of these ideological conditions for the emergence of market society.
Conclude by summarizing why the shift to market society is a fundamental transformation. Include both
material and ideological conditions in this conclusion.
Answer preview for this paper integrates material and ideological conditions.
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