Thinker-Theme Review Questions Flashcards
(40 cards)
How does Weber define modernity?
Modernity is characterized by rationalization—life organized by efficiency and control rather than tradition or emotion.
What is rationalization, and why is it so central to Weber’s theory of modern life?
Rationalization is the shift toward efficiency and calculation; it defines economic, political, and spiritual life under modernity.
What does Weber mean by the ‘disenchantment of the world’?
Disenchantment is the loss of magical or sacred meaning in the world, replaced by scientific and rational explanations.
Explain the ‘iron cage’ metaphor and its significance.
The ‘iron cage’ traps individuals in bureaucratic systems that persist even after original motivations (like religion) fade.
How does Weber link Protestant asceticism to the spirit of capitalism?
Protestant asceticism encouraged disciplined, frugal work habits, which evolved into the secular spirit of capitalism.
Is bureaucracy a good or bad thing for Weber? Why?
Bureaucracy is efficient but dehumanizing; it is both necessary and a threat to individual freedom.
How does Weber distinguish between types of authority and how do they relate to modernity?
Traditional authority relies on custom, charismatic on personal magnetism, legal-rational on impersonal rules—modernity privileges the latter.
What is the role of science in modern life according to Weber?
Science provides technical knowledge but cannot tell us what is morally right; it describes ‘how,’ not ‘why.’
Can charisma still exist in a bureaucratized modern society, according to Weber?
Charisma can disrupt bureaucracies, but it is exceptional and usually gets routinized into bureaucracy afterward.
Does Weber think historical progress is inevitable? Why or why not?
No; Weber believes rationalization increases technical control but does not guarantee freedom or moral improvement.
According to Fanon, what drives historical change under colonialism?
Historical change comes through revolutionary violence overthrowing colonial domination.
Why is violence necessary for decolonization according to Fanon?
Because colonialism is rooted in violence; liberation must mirror that violence to restore dignity and humanity.
What does Fanon mean by calling the colonial world ‘Manichaean’?
The colonial world rigidly divides colonizer and colonized into good/evil categories that must be destroyed.
How does the psychology of the colonized shape the course of historical change?
Colonialism warps the psyche of the colonized and makes them internalize inferiority; violence helps reclaim a healthy, liberated self.
Why does Fanon place so much emphasis on the peasantry and lumpenproletariat?
Peasants and lumpenproletariat have less to lose and more revolutionary potential than urban elites.
What is Fanon’s vision for the ‘new man’ after decolonization?
The ‘new man’ transcends colonial categories and is built through collective liberation struggle.
How does Fanon critique the national bourgeoisie after independence?
The national bourgeoisie replicates colonial exploitation for its own gain after independence.
How does Fanon’s understanding of historical change differ from Marx’s?
Unlike Marx, Fanon sees peasants—not industrial workers—as the true revolutionary class; race and psychology are central.
Does Fanon believe in a universal future for humanity?
Yes, but only through decolonization and the creation of new human relationships based on equality.
How does Fanon link culture and historical change?
Culture becomes a tool for political liberation and national consciousness during decolonization.
How does Du Bois think social sciences can help us understand the world?
Social sciences reveal real structures of inequality and illuminate hidden injustices like racism.
What does Du Bois mean by ‘the problem of the color line’?
The color line divides humanity along racial lines, structuring all aspects of life.
How does Du Bois use empirical methods to study Black life?
He used statistics, surveys, and case studies to rigorously document Black life and expose injustice.
What is the significance of the Veil in Du Bois’ theory?
The Veil symbolizes the psychological and social separation of Black Americans from white society.
