In Capital (1867), K

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In Capital (1867), K. Marx advances the concept of commodity fetishism to describe the ways in which people in capitalist societies believe they are controlled by their products through a process of reification or mystification. Discuss the prevalence of the fetishism of commodities in our contemporary capitalist society. What examples of commodity fetishism do you see in your own life and that of your family and friends? 

Social Integration is a key theme that runs through E. Durkheim's work. Discuss how he applied this concept to the study of different human societies over time, and how his concerns still reflect contemporary issues in our own society? Provide specific examples to illustrate your answer.

In studying the distribution of power in society, M. Weber identifies three dimensions of social stratification: class, status, and party. Weber also argues that class is relatively more important than status in defining individuals' life chances in capitalist society. Discuss Weber's distinction including specific examples to illustrate each concept. Further, assess his claim about the importance of class, justifying why you agree or disagree with his position. 

 M. Weber and G. Simmel share a relatively pessimistic vision of contemporary capitalist society. Discuss how a pessimistic approach appears in both Weber and Simmel's work, and how they address their pessimistic accounts of the interaction between individuals and modern capitalist society.