Topic > Explain the three classical approaches to work: Marx, Durkheim and Max Weber

"Sociologists of work have argued that work shapes not only the social position and status of individuals within society, but the character of society itself." (Stewart and Zaaiman; 2015). Using the understanding of the quote mentioned above, this essay will comprehensively elaborate the three classical approaches to the work of Marx, Durkheim, and Max Weber. Furthermore, the essay will conclude by mentioning the overall concept of work as sociologists define it. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay In Marx's first classical approach, the theme of alienation is raised. Marx defines alienation as dissatisfaction and dissatisfaction with an individual's work performance or the product of one's labor. It is an individual's inability to communicate the true essence of their work and the sense of feeling estranged from themselves. Commodity trading in certain market systems is where alienation originates, which then leads to the thought and practice of private property – individual ownership of the means of production. Once these objects become objects of consumption, the step towards the idea of ​​private property will be short. The private property system spills over into the systems that created it, which increases levels of alienation. Alienation is then increased by the fact that workers do not own the goods they produce because work cannot produce real fulfillment in this sense. For example: “In capitalist countries the means of production are concentrated in the hands of a small minority.” Marx argued that “the nature of work in society can only be understood by examining it in terms of infrastructure. He believed that a capitalist infrastructure inevitably produces a high level of alienation.” (Haralambos and Holborn; 2004). Workers are reduced to the commodity level as they have no control over the products they produce and their labor is given a monetary value. Their employment is based on the law of supply and demand (wage labor). According to Marx capitalism can be self-destructive and therefore having a communist or socialist society (the specialized division of labor is demolished) can act as a solution to the problem of alienated labour. Here individual and collective needs are satisfied as workers simultaneously produce goods for themselves and the community. According to Durkheim “the division of labor is directly proportional to the dynamic or moral density of a society. This is defined as a combination of the concentration of people and the degree of socialization of a group or society." (Durkheim; 1893). In pre-industrial society/mechanical solidarity the division of labor is not specialized. The internal organization of mechanical solidarity is very similar in that it consists of juxtaposed family political groups, characterized by little social differentiation, similar beliefs, and people involved in hunting and gathering. Industrial societies/organic solidarity evolve with differences in the beliefs and actions of individuals: an increase in individualism but can only progress with the decline of collective consciousness. Here the members of society depend on each other since their skills are all specialized, interdependence therefore forms the basis of organic solidarity. The rapid expansion and specialization of work creates anomie, a threat to social solidarity. Anomie arises with a decrease in normative behavior “Durkheim saw a series of anomies in 19th century industrial society; high rates of suicide, marital separation and conflict.