Marxism Flashcards
(8 cards)
What is marxism?
Karl Marx represents a critique of industrial capitalism before the Industrial Revolution inequalities existed within society. Industrialisation led to the development of a capitalist society where inequalities are pronounced and extreme.
Capatilism is a society based on individual and private ownership of wealth, economic society trade and industry is privately owned and accumulation of wealth is encouraged. In a capitalist society it’s inevitable that there will be huge inequalities in wealth which can lead to the emergence of an extreme two class system that are both heavily dependent on each other.
What is Marx’s argument?
The proletariat endure great suffer from false consciousness (true nature of their exploitive situation is distorted - there
Indoctrinated deluded and blinded by real nature of their problem) which leads to a ruling class ideology.
However Marx argue the proletariat would gain full consciousness over time and unite/engage in a proletariat revolution and create a Marx’s utopian society- communism
What is class of owners?
What is a class of non owners?
-The capitalist, owners of industries
-rich wealthy and powerful
-Dominant/ruling class - bourgeoisie
-ruling elite
-Workers, labouring class
-lack power and wealth possess -labouring skills
-subordinate/subject class - proletariat
constitute the mass
What is the 4 correspondence principle?
-relationship of authority and controlbetween teachers and students reflect the hierarchy of authority in workplace so prepares individuals for work as it fosters deference to authority and acceptance of hierarchy. The alienation students have a lack of control mirrors workers lack of control over production.
-relationships of domination & subordinationdiffers in type of school and level of schooling in lower streams there’s closer supervision and fewer choices(obedience and conform) whereas as higher is trusted(independence creativity). Reflects level of occupation lower=closely supervised and orders given whereas higher trusted to internalise company goal.
-fragmentaion of knowledgecompatmentalisation into unconnected subjects reflects work through division of labour into small meaningless tasks.
-Motivation by external rewardspupil motivated by extrinsic rewards and satisfaction than the interest in subject reflecting workforce.
What are Marxist view on education?
Bowles and gintis believe education is an institution which act to perpetuate the social relationships which exist in economic life.school fosters types of personality development for dim/sum in work and wider society. They argue the system operates through the hidden curriculum lessons without being directly taught but through everyday experiences in school. Argue the roles of education in a capitalist society is to reproduce obedience and accept inequality close parallels between school and work.
they claim the system is a gigantic myth making machine it especially promotes myth of meritocracy serves to justify privilege of higher classes so less likely to challenge system and overthrow. Also justifies poverty by promoting the poor and dumb myth as it blames poverty on individual than capitalism so contributes to reconciling workers to their exploited position.
however there is possibility that poor will think it’s unfair and rebel but they argue education prevents this by legitimising class inequalities.
What is Marxists view on education?
They see education based on class division and capitalist exploitation. Believe status quo is maintained because bourgeoisie control state so maintain dominant position and prevents a revolution same way education functioned.
althusser believes state consists of two essential elements to keep the power of bourgeoisie. He also believes education system performs two functions:
-education reproduces class inequality by transforming it generation to generation by failing each successive wc pupil
-legitimates class inequality by producing ideologies that disguise true cause. Which persuade workers to accept inequality as inevitable so they are less likely to challenge or threaten capitalism and conform.
What are the two essential elements to keep bourgeoisie in power according to Althusser?
Repressive state apparatus:
maintain the dominant rule by force or threat of it which include police, court and army and can use physical coercion to repress.
ideological state apparatus:
maintain rule by controlling people ideas, values and beliefs which include religion, mass media and education system.
Evaluate Marxists view on education.
-Very useful a as it exposes the myth of meritocracy and highlights education reproduce &legitamise inequality.
-Clearly identify false consciousness hierarchy is normalised and don’t question it.
-many school provide opportunity for disadvantaged pupil compensatory education programme.
-Critical modernist morrow and Torres critique taking a first class approach as they ignore other factors (e.g ethnicity, gender, sexuality. As they don’t show how all forms of inequality are inter related.
-Postmodernist argue reproduce diversity not inequality.
-Too deterministic assume pupil passively accept indoctrination however neo Marxist say some rebel.
-However some people may be motivated by interest than external rewards.
