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Evolution of Societal Thought: From Theological to Scientific Views

Explore the transition of human understanding from gods to scientific reasoning via notable figures like Marx, Darwin, and Comte. Learn about the stages of civilization and ideologies that shaped modern society.

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Evolution of Societal Thought: From Theological to Scientific Views

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  1. Marx and Darwin

  2. August Comte (1798-1857) • Positivism- the key to civilization is humanities understanding of the world. 3 Stages • Theological Stage- humans interpreted everything in terms of gods who lived in nature • Metaphysical Stage- people learned through Christianity, to think in more abstract terms • Positive Stage- human understanding becoming scientific.

  3. August Comte (1798-1857) • Sociology- a scientific study of human civilization • Established religion would be replaced by a a “religion of humanity” • Inspired rapid development of the social sciences: - economics, political science, anthropology, sociology and psychology

  4. Karl Marx (1818-1883) • Communist League - link far flung German Socialist living in exile • The Communist Manifesto (1848) written jointly with Fredrich Engels • Basic statement of ideals of the Communist League

  5. Karl Marx (1818-1883) Communism • Goal – Economic equity • The wealthy (bourgeoisie)would not voluntarily give up wealth • Called for a violent revolution, led by the working class - Proletariat • Identity based on class - No nationalism • No religion • Workers would own the factorsof production (land, factories, natural resources)

  6. Karl Marx (1818-1883) Theory of History • All of history from the beginnings of time consists of a class struggle • Society is structured based on the organization of its economy

  7. Karl Marx (1818-1883) Theory of History • Feudalism supplanted by development of bourgeoisie (Middle Class) • Capitalism led to creation of a new working class, the proletariat • Proletariat would arise and overthrow the capitalist • Government created by proletariat would be violent, but would wither away as the result of the elimination of all other classes

  8. Karl Marx (1818-1883) Das Kapital • Analysis of capitalism • Value of a product comes from the labor required to produce it - Capitalist makes a profit by keeping part of the value added by labor - Exploitive of the working class

  9. Karl Marx (1818-1883) • Competition forces lower prices, reduced profits - Lower wages to subsistence level • Small producers fail • concentration of capital among wealthy • fewer middle class, larger working class • deprives all but few of property

  10. Karl Marx (1818-1883) • Scientific Socialism – using scientific analysis of history and economy • as opposed to utopian socialism of Saint-Simon, Robert Owen and Charles Fourier

  11. Karl Marx (1818-1883) • Appeal • Provides a method for analyzing society • Accepts industrialization as ultimately beneficial while criticizing industrial society. • Creates moral judgments without a system of ethics • Scientific claim that the workers would ultimately “win”

  12. Charles Darwin • On the Origins of Species (1859) • Provided detailed evidence and explained the mechanism for evolution • “natural selection” • Over times, species that were well adapted would survive, those that were not would die out • Over time, “higher” forms of life emerged

  13. Social Darwinism • The application of Darwin’s ideas to social science. • Used “science” to justify that Europeans were superior to Asians and Africans - Therefore, Europeans should dominate them - Men should dominate women • “science” of Eugenics- Some races/nationalities superior to others. Unfit should be discouraged from breeding

  14. Social Darwinism Herbert Spencer • “survival of the fittest” • Progress was “not an accident, but a necessity” • All things evolved from simplicity to complexity

  15. Social Darwinism • Ideas of Darwin would be used to help justify European Imperialism • “White Man’s Burden”

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