SOC 2312 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Meritocracy, False Consciousness

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOC 2312
• Professor: sawan

Document Summary

Defining materialism: an examination of the underlying relationships that govern whether or not people (cid:272)a(cid:374) a(cid:272)(cid:272)ess thi(cid:374)gs a(cid:374)d (cid:272)o(cid:374)t(cid:396)ol the(cid:373) to (cid:373)easu(cid:396)e ho(cid:449) people(cid:859)s relationships to things shape their capacity to exercise and resist power. Karl marx: offered an analysis and critique of early capitalism during industrialisation in. Europe: drive to satisfy material needs is central for understanding human social relations, throughout history key determinant of power related to access to the means of production typically mediated by the owning classes. Domination through materialism: ownership vs. non-ownership was central for marx (and still relevant today) when examining who has power, o(cid:374)e(cid:859)s relationship to the means of production explains whether one is in a subordinate or dominant position in society. In the end of the day, these institutions mask our view and we lose the sight of reality: one way to look at power deeper.