Karl Marx and Neo theories.

Essay by rugbyhalifaxUniversity, Bachelor'sB+, November 2005

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The relations between wage labours and capitalists at first facilitated rapid technological innovation and economic growth. This idea followed Marx's belief that the capitalist mode of production was flawed and that technology advancements only served the capitalist and not that of the workers. The materialism that the capitalist held was that of wealth above all other was of the essence.

Unfortunately, the crises of overproduction are created by the innovation in technology and as this growth continued so did the rate of production. As this rate of production increases, the need for more skilled workers decreases thus diminishing the work force. This allows the capitalist to produce more and have less cost and thus will equal more profit.

Marxist theorists see advancements in technology as a positive thing because though it may limit the work force it consequently lowers the price to the consumer and thus enabling the worker to afford the products they produce.

An example is "Fordism" which refers to the process of the assembly line to produce cars. Though the assembly line limited the work force it permitted the workers to buy the cars they produced which were a fact Henry Ford was proud of. Marxist theorists believed that science and technology were factors of commerce and not a separate institution. They believed that science and technology advanced the production of goods for the benefit of society through capitalist ideals not through scientific ideals.

Stanley Aronowitz and William DiFazio are examples of two sociologists who believed such a thing. They brought forth the idea that scientist and technologist are limited to the goals of the capitalist and that any inventions brought forth would directly benefit the capitalist who then would benefit from the consumer buying the new innovations. Aronowitz and DiFazio saw for the most part science...