Sociology theory paper (literature review and compare different theorist)

The concept of “Reification”

In Five page, double-spaced paper, research the significance of the concept by conducting a literature review.

Steps:

1. Critically analyze the concept in a brief essay, which clearly examines the meaning of the concept as it has been defined and interpreted by different theorists.

Your analysis should be organized like this:

Begin with a review of the concept from the perspective of the theorist studied in this class: ex. “reification”: begin your analysis with a summary of Georg Lukacs’ view of the concept.

2. Then explore the origins (intellectual roots) of the concept:

(i.e., before Lukacs)

3. In the remainder of the paper, explore the subsequent development of the concept:

(i.e., after Lukacs)

Important!! Must satisfied these requirements:

• You are required to employ at least six published sources in your analysis of the concept

• Your sources should be published in reputable journals or books, and authored by different theorists

• Your analysis should summarize and review these publications within the larger context of these debates (when relevant)

• No long quotes; no long passages in quotes

• If you quote someone or make allusions to their ideas in your paper, place their name, the publication year of the work, and the page number in a parenthetical statement: (Jason, 2015: p.156)

• A full citation of the work should be included in the bibliography at the end of the paper.

Grading based on:

The papers will be graded according to the following criteria:

1) The ability to articulate a clear and concise understanding of the concept presented in the course;

2) The ability to find sources within the literature that have a close bearing on the concept;

3) The ability to compare and contrast (in writing) the ideas and claims of the different theorists.

Important main point:

. Georg Lukacs

1. “Reification” as an extension of Marx's concept/process of Commodity Fetishism - capitalism's tendency to transform social relations (exploitative ones) into things/commodities, and thereby obscures the real source of value (i.e., labor), and the injustice and inhumanity of the system.

2. reification of civil society - market penetration in, and commodification of, every nook and cranny of our life, beyond economic life

3. Overcoming false consciousness: conditions under which when a "class in itself" becomes a "class for itself" (see Ritzer). The rise of capitalism over feudalism facilitated this process of becoming a class-for-itself among workers, but under late capitalism, it has once again become difficult for workers to identify with their class interests due to pervasive reification ala consumerism and “status” distinctions.