classical Thinkers MCQ Quiz in मल्याळम - Objective Question with Answer for classical Thinkers - സൗജന്യ PDF ഡൗൺലോഡ് ചെയ്യുക

The correct answer is - Karl Marx

Key Points

• Karl Marx
  • Karl Marx is the author of Grundrisse, a collection of notebooks and reflections written during 1857-1858.
  • The Grundrisse is considered a foundational text for Marxist theory, providing deep insights into the capitalist system.
  • It covers critical concepts such as commodities, labor, and capital, forming the basis for Marx's later works, including Das Kapital.

Additional Information

• G. H. Mead
  • George Herbert Mead was an American philosopher, sociologist, and psychologist, known for his work on the development of the self and social psychology.
  • His most notable work is Mind, Self, and Society, which explores the concept of the social self and the role of communication in the formation of the mind.
• Emile Durkheim
  • Emile Durkheim was a French sociologist, considered one of the founding figures of sociology.
  • His key works include The Division of Labour in Society, Suicide, and The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life.
  • Durkheim's work focuses on social integration, collective consciousness, and the role of social norms and institutions.
• August Comte
  • Auguste Comte was a French philosopher who is credited with founding the discipline of sociology and the doctrine of positivism.
  • He is best known for his theory of three stages of societal development: the theological, metaphysical, and positive stages.
  • Comte's major works include The Course in Positive Philosophy and A General View of Positivism.

The correct answer is - (B), (C), (A), (D)

Key Points

• Stages of Development of Society as per Karl Marx
  • Primitive Commune
    • This is the earliest stage of societal development.
    • People lived in small, cooperative communities without formal social classes.
    • Resources and property were commonly owned.
  • Slave Society
    • This stage followed the Primitive Commune.
    • It was characterized by the emergence of social classes and private property.
    • Slavery became a dominant mode of production, with slaves forming the main labor force.
  • Feudalism
    • This stage emerged after the Slave Society.
    • It featured a hierarchical structure with lords and vassals.
    • Land was the primary source of wealth, and serfs worked the land owned by the nobility.
  • Capitalism
    • This is the stage that developed after Feudalism.
    • It is marked by the rise of the bourgeoisie (capitalist class) and the proletariat (working class).
    • Production is based on private ownership of the means of production and driven by profit.

Additional Information

• Socialist Society
  • Marx theorized that Capitalism would eventually be replaced by Socialism.
  • In a Socialist Society, the means of production would be owned collectively or by the state.
  • The focus would shift towards producing for use rather than for profit.
• Communist Society
  • The final stage in Marx's theory, where the state would wither away.
  • There would be a classless, stateless society with common ownership of the means of production.
  • Distribution would be based on need rather than contribution.

The correct answer is - Theological, Metaphysical, Positive

Key Points

• Auguste Comte
  • Comte is considered the father of sociology.
  • He proposed the Law of Three Stages, which describes the evolution of society and human thought.
• Theological Stage
  • In this stage, society explains phenomena through religious beliefs and divine powers.
  • Supernatural forces are believed to control the world.
  • It is characterized by a reliance on gods and spirits for explanations.
• Metaphysical Stage
  • This stage is a transitional phase between the theological and positive stages.
  • People begin to use abstract principles and philosophical reasoning to explain the world.
  • It involves a shift from supernatural to metaphysical explanations.
• Positive Stage
  • In this final stage, scientific knowledge and empirical evidence are used to understand the world.
  • Society relies on observation, experimentation, and reason.
  • It emphasizes the use of scientific methods and rejects metaphysical and theological explanations.

Additional Information

• Slave Society, Feudal Society, Capitalism
  • These terms are associated with Karl Marx's theory of historical materialism.
  • Marx's theory describes the evolution of societies through different modes of production.
• Theological, Militant, Industrial
  • These stages do not align with Comte's original theory.
  • They may refer to different aspects of societal development but not Comte's Law of Three Stages.
• Capitalism, Socialism, Communism
  • These stages are part of Marxist theory, describing the economic and social evolution towards a classless society.
  • Marx's stages focus on economic structures and class struggles.

The correct answer is - Social Physics

Key Points

• Social Physics
  • Auguste Comte, a French philosopher, is considered the father of Sociology.
  • He originally used the term "Social Physics" to describe the scientific study of society.
  • Comte later renamed the field to "Sociology" to differentiate it from other physical sciences.
  • He aimed to apply a scientific approach to the study of social phenomena, just as natural sciences do for physical phenomena.

Additional Information

• Social Dynamics
  • Refers to the study of the changes and developments in society over time.
  • It was a concept developed by Comte to understand the processes that drive social change.
• Social System
  • Refers to the complex set of human relationships interacting in many ways.
  • It is a term more commonly associated with the structural functionalist perspective in sociology.
• Social Science
  • Encompasses various disciplines that study society and human behavior, including Sociology, Psychology, Anthropology, and Economics.
  • It is a broader term and not specifically coined by Comte to describe Sociology.

The correct answer is 'Only A and C'.

Key Points

• Rituals are formalized, repetitive actions with cultural or religious significance.
  • This statement is correct.
  • Rituals are indeed structured, repetitive actions that carry specific cultural or religious meanings. They often involve predetermined sequences of activities, such as ceremonies, rites, or traditions.
• Rituals are typically performed only in religious settings.
  • This statement is incorrect.
  • Rituals are performed in a variety of contexts, not just religious settings. They can be cultural, social, or even personal practices, such as national ceremonies, graduation ceremonies, or daily routines.
• Rituals help reinforce social cohesion and group identity.
  • This statement is correct.
  • Rituals play a significant role in strengthening social bonds and fostering a sense of belonging and identity within a group. They provide a shared experience that can unify members of a society.
• Rituals are static and unchanging across all cultures.
  • This statement is incorrect.
  • Rituals are dynamic and can evolve over time and across different cultures. They may adapt to changing social norms, values, and contexts.

Hence the Statements A and C are correct, while Statements B and D are incorrect.

The correct answer is -  Totemism among the Australian Arunta.

Key Points

• Émile Durkheim, a pioneering sociologist, extensively explored the concept of "collective consciousness" in his study of totemism among the Australian Arunta.
• In his work "The Elementary Forms of Religious Life" (1912), Durkheim examined how totemic religion among the Arunta reflected fundamental aspects of collective life and social cohesion.
• Durkheim argued that totemism represented the clan's sense of collective identity and unity, symbolizing the shared beliefs and values that bond members together.
• The rituals and symbols associated with totems were seen as expressions of collective consciousness, reinforcing social solidarity and communal identity.
• Through his study, Durkheim demonstrated that religion, through its collective rituals and symbols, played a crucial role in maintaining the cohesion and stability of society.

Additional Information

Collective Consciousness:

• A concept by Émile Durkheim, referring to the shared beliefs, values, and norms that guide society.
• It exists beyond individual consciousness, shaping behavior and ensuring social cohesion.
• It represents the totality of beliefs and sentiments and functions as an independent and determinate system.
• In mechanical solidarity (traditional societies), it is strong and uniform, while in organic solidarity (modern societies), it weakens due to specialization.
• Collective consciousness regulates behavior, maintains order, strengthens social bonds, and helps understand societal evolution.

The correct answer is - Statement-II is true but Statement-I is false

Key Points

• Statement-II is true but Statement-I is false
• Statement-II: Gidden's approach begins from the recognition that people actively make and remake the social structure.
  • This statement is true because Anthony Giddens, a prominent sociologist, developed the theory of structuration, which emphasizes that social structures are both the medium and the outcome of the practices they recursively organize.
  • According to Giddens, individuals have agency and can influence and reshape social structures through their actions.
• Statement-I: Durkheim argued that society has no primacy over the individual person as it is not far more than the sum of individual acts.
  • This statement is false because Émile Durkheim, a foundational sociologist, believed that society is more than just the sum of individual actions. He argued that society has a reality of its own, distinct from individuals, and that social facts (values, cultural norms, social structures) exert influence over individual behavior.
  • Durkheim's perspective underscores the primacy of society over the individual, contrary to what is stated in Statement-I.

Additional Information

• Durkheim's Theory
  • Durkheim introduced the concept of social facts, which are aspects of social life that shape our actions as individuals, such as laws, morals, beliefs, and customs.
  • He emphasized the importance of collective conscience, which is the set of shared beliefs and moral attitudes that operate as a unifying force within society.
  • Durkheim's work laid the foundation for functionalist theories in sociology, which focus on the functions and interrelations of various parts of society.
• Giddens' Structuration Theory
  • Giddens' structuration theory posits that social structures are created and maintained through the repeated actions of individuals.
  • He introduced the concept of the "duality of structure," where social structures are both the medium and the outcome of the practices they organize.
  • Giddens argued that individuals have agency, meaning they have the capacity to act independently and make their own free choices within the constraints of social structures.

The correct answer is - Kantian epistemology as it is based on idealistic and aprioristic assumption.

Key Points

• Kantian epistemology
  • In "The Elementary Form of Religious Life," Emile Durkheim critiques the Kantian epistemological framework.
  • Kant's epistemology is based on the idea that certain knowledge is a priori, meaning it is independent of experience and rooted in the inherent structures of the mind.
  • Durkheim refutes this by arguing that religious beliefs and practices are not derived from inherent structures but are instead social constructs emerging from communal life.
  • Durkheim's approach emphasizes empirical observation and the social origins of knowledge, contrasting sharply with Kant's idealism.

Additional Information

• Comteian epistemology
  • Auguste Comte is known as the father of positivism, which emphasizes empirical observation and scientific methods.
  • Although Durkheim was influenced by Comte, he diverged by incorporating a more nuanced understanding of social phenomena.
• Hegelian epistemology
  • Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel's epistemology is rooted in idealism, focusing on the dialectical process and the development of ideas through history.
  • Durkheim critiques Hegelian thought for its abstract nature but does not primarily focus on it in his religious studies.
• Weberian epistemology
  • Max Weber's epistemology involves understanding social action through interpretive methods, emphasizing the subjective meaning of actions.
  • While Durkheim and Weber had different approaches, Durkheim's primary critique is not centered on Weber's epistemology.

The correct answer is A, B, C and D only.

Key PointsDurkheim's Views on the 'Division of Labour'

• A. The 'division of labour' produces specialization of occupational function and therefore fosters the development of specific talent, capacities, and attitudes.
  • Durkheim believed that the division of labour in society promotes specialization, which in turn enhances individual talents and capacities.
  • Hence statement A is correct.
• B. The individual personality should be developed according to the specific qualities which the person has, and hence not everyone should receive a uniform education.
  • Durkheim argued for the development of individual personalities based on their specific qualities, advocating against uniform education for all.
  • Hence statement B is correct.
• C. The expansion of individualism is associated with the division of labour.
  • Durkheim noted that the division of labour leads to greater individualism, as people become more specialized in their roles.
  • Hence statement C is correct.
• D. Durkheim's principles of 'division of labour' can be compared with the evolutionary model of growth.
  • Durkheim's theory of the division of labour aligns with the evolutionary model of social development, where societies evolve towards increased complexity and specialization.
  • Hence statement D is correct.
• E. 'Division of Labour' is the result of industrialism alone.
  • Durkheim did not believe that the division of labour was solely a result of industrialism; he saw it as a broader social phenomenon.
  • Hence statement E is incorrect.

Additional Information

• Durkheim's Theory
  • Durkheim's theory on the division of labour emphasizes the functional aspect of social order and stability.
  • He distinguished between mechanical and organic solidarity, with the latter being characteristic of modern societies where the division of labour is more pronounced.
• Mechanical vs. Organic Solidarity
  • Mechanical solidarity is typical of traditional societies where social cohesion is based on shared beliefs and similarities.
  • Organic solidarity arises in more complex societies where individuals perform specialized tasks, leading to interdependence.

The correct answer is - 1, 2 and 3 only

Key Points

• Social Facts are external: Durkheim asserted that Social Facts exist outside the individual and exert control over their actions, influencing behavior and thought.
• Key to societal understanding: Social Facts are essential for understanding the structure and functioning of society, as they provide insights into the societal norms and values.
• Encompass norms, values, and structures: Social Facts include collective ways of thinking, acting, and feeling that regulate individual actions, thereby maintaining social order.
• All these elements contribute to the stability and coherence of societies, making them central to sociological study.

Additional Information

• Definition: Social facts are ways of acting, thinking, and feeling that exist outside the individual but exert control over each person. They are external to and coercive of the individual.
• Characteristics: Social facts are external (exist outside the individual), coercive (exert control over individuals), and general (widespread throughout society).
• Types of Social Facts: Material social facts (institutions, laws, architecture, technologies) and non-material social facts (norms, values, culture, collective consciousness).
• Examples:
  • Laws and regulations that govern behavior and maintain social order.
  • Norms and values, which are shared beliefs and expectations about behavior.
  • Social institutions like family, education, religion, and government that organize social life.