Was Marx Right? The Value of Thoughtful Ambivalence When Studying and Using Social Theory

Abstract

This assignment is designed to cultivate in students an approach to studying and applying social theory based on thoughtful ambivalence. Thoughtful ambivalence is a skill, a habit of mind, and a value. As a skill, thoughtful ambivalence is the ability to identify what is useful and what is unhelpful about a social theory for understanding the social...

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Details

Subject Area(s):

Economic Sociology, Marxist Sociology, Political Sociology, Teaching and Learning in Sociology, Theory

Resource Type(s):

Assignment

Class Level(s):

Any Level

Class Size(s):

Any

Usage Notes

See resource pdf.

Learning Goals and Assessments

Learning Goal(s):

1. Upon completion of this assignment, students should be able to identify and explain three key ideas in Marx’s work.
   
2. Upon completion of this assignment, students should be able to discern the empirical support for or against these ideas.
3. Upon completion of this assignment, students should be able to recognize social theories as helpful but incomplete maps of the social world.
4. Upon completion of this assignment, students should be able to appreciate the moral value of understanding the limitations and ambiguities of social theories as safeguards against dogmatism and oversimplification.

Goal Assessment(s):

1. Students’ ability to identify, explain, and discern the empirical support for Marx’s ides will be assessed through a written paper or a mini-Ted Talk.
2. Students’ ability to recognize social theories as helpful but incomplete maps of the social world and appreciate the moral value of their limitations will be assessed through a reflection statement.