Society Issues
Karl Marx was one of the greatest philosophers whose works have inspired people around the world. Marx came up with many theories that showed the influence that can be brought by socialism in society. According to Marx’s theory, socialism is a gradual transition where individuals forget capitalism and begin to adopt communism. In this theory, individuals create a policy where a community or a society owns the property. Each individual is obliged to contribute, and they later receive economic stimulus according to their needs. Marx suggests that the nation must rise and fall because of all the struggles arising from communism. The nature of a society is dependent on how individuals relate to each other. Many individuals have criticized the theories of socialism and communism concerning the community. This called for an analysis of how people perceive the arguments. While some individuals prefer capitalism, others have focused on improving the perception of communism.
Social class is where individuals are grouped according to their economic status and the social class they hold in society. This forms social hierarchies that put individuals at a high or low level in the community. The individuals in the upper social class are said to be the ones who control the government economically. They do this for their advantage of not caring about those individuals at a low level. Although people are equal in a contradictory manner, some are more privileged than others. Social class affects buying and selling, managing business enterprises and individuals should use the knowledge they have to advance their social class (Acker, 2006). The social class is also a determinant of the quality of services an individual receives. Those in the high social level in society have access to proper healthcare; they can afford good education and have political status in most circumstances. This is the opposite of what the individuals in the society from the low social class can afford in terms of education and healthcare.
Karl Marx, in his theory, highlighted religion and its freedom. Individuals should have religious freedom, whereby they are free to choose what they want to believe. Individuals are allowed to assemble and practice their religious beliefs in a manner that is acceptable to them. Individuals should not criticize a spiritual view of any kind because freedom enables every individual to practice what they feel comfortable doing. Religious people in the society experience suffering, which at times is an expression of real economic power. “Religious liberty is a hallmark of democracy. Having been freed from entanglements, religion has managed to flourish” (Sehat, 2011). Religious freedom differs from political freedom, whereby in political freedom, individuals can express themselves where they feel oppressed, and they can comfortably air out their political views. Politics is considered as a struggle for power, and hence individuals who feel the need to engage in politics have the freedom provided they meet the set guidelines.
The concept of civil society has been widely discussed regarding socialism. This includes citizens who are linked to each other through interests which they share in common, mostly concerning a community. This consists of the activities carried out by an informal group of people in a way that is acceptable in society. Marx saw that civil society’s analysis must do something more than to point fingers or provide descriptions (Tester, 2014). Through the study of civil society, it is possible to highlight why we live in our current communities. This should reflect on how we can understand the relationship between culture and our interests. Civil society is not well understood when it is reduced to the political concept. Civil society involves situations where individuals carrying out their life activities and how the members of the community can do what they are told. Civil society helps to bring people together in performing a collective action.
The way individuals interact is based on stable patterns of relations in society. Social structures come from what individuals associate themselves with, such as the type of groups or the institutions which they attend. Realities that individuals find themselves in, such as culture, have a .great impact on their relations with society members. Through the structure of society, the attitudes and interests of an individual are recognized. Religion and political affiliations are forms of structures in a community. Individuals belonging to a particular religious group have shared beliefs, which in turn reflect on the type of behaviors they exhibit. The structure of a society is believed to contain parts and relations of diverse nature and variability (Nadel, 2013). Stability in a society can be maintained due to social structures. Individuals know their role in society, and they should be at peace to maintain balance. Social relations are based on shared values because most of the individuals who come together have a common interest or belief in society.
The rights of citizens are based on social values that have to be followed. They constitute legal principles that an individual is entitled to. Human rights have evolved, and they are taken seriously now that they have been in existence for a long time. Politicians and governments should respect people’s rights and assist them where necessary. Human rights are a serious subject in the scope of philosophy. Individuals are supposed to have rights, such as life insurance, food, and child care. The social and historical state of affairs in a society creates a difference in how human rights are administered. Peoples’ rights should be upheld with dignity and should not be taken for granted in moral and political discussions (Waldron, 2014). Human rights need considerations in many aspects, even though they may look appealing in some situations. Human rights should be taken seriously, and individuals should be aware of their rights, especially where they are encountered with difficult or legal circumstances.
Marx highlights communism issues that face the education system in societies. According to the philosopher, the bourgeois is experienced in the education system. This is considered to belong to the individuals of high class, according to the traditional Marxist. Most individuals seem not to understand the social context associated with education. The education system is currently accessible to most individuals after it was made affordable and is not only accessible to high-class individuals of a particular society. Marx developed the vision of man as having “free, conscious activity” as his “species character”, a vision which is important for education (Anyon, 2011). However, the division of individuals in classes still takes place in the education system. Those individuals of a higher social level in the society can afford to study in prestigious schools compared to those of a lower class. The political and economic status still influences the education system.
In conclusion, the theories of Karl Marx play an essential role in the social aspect of human beings regarding the societies they originate from. The society is highlighted and incorporated in philosophy concepts, for example, the civil society and citizens. The religious element has also been highlighted, and individuals have a right to choose any beliefs that they want to exercise. The constitution of the social structure within a society is shown where individuals can differentiate the different social classes that exist. According to Marx, the education system is faced by challenges whereby people are divided regarding their social and economic status. Issues in society have been outlined and how they impact individuals and in the selected community or group.
References
Acker, J., Baca-Zinn, M., Collins, P. H., Cox, O., Davis, K., Eells, K., … & Marx, K. (2006). Social class and stratification: Classic statements and theoretical debates. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
Anyon, J. (2011). Marx and education. Taylor & Francis.
Nadel, S. F. (2013). The theory of social structure (Vol. 8). Routledge.
Sehat, D. (2011). The myth of American religious freedom. Oxford University Press.
Tester, K. (2014). Civil Society (RLE Social Theory). Routledge.
Waldron, J. (2014). Nonsense upon Stilts (Routledge Revivals): Bentham, Burke and Marx on the Rights of Man. Routledge.