Assignment
A. Questions for weekly discussions and conversations (not part of the required Discussion Board assignment)
These questions can serve as the starting point for your discussions during the week. They are "thought starters," so that you can explore some ideas associated with the discussion board and unit topics. Answers are not required, and should not be submitted with your required assignment. Answers are not graded.
1. In our society who decides what the "good things" are in our culture? How do you know or come to know what the "good things" are? How do we as members of our culture learn what these "good things" are?
2. What examples can you provide of how the concept of "life chances" operates in a (a) caste system, (b) a social class system, and (c) a one-party Communist system such as China?
B. Required Discussion Board assignment.
• Explain how an individual's ascribed social class position at birth may affect what Max Weber called life chances, or the ability of an individual to attain the following "good things" that a society values:
•good health care
•longevity
•a good job
•security
•status
•wealth
•power
•prestige
• Describe how life chances may affect an individual's life goals (positive or negative).
• In what ways may life chances be irrelevant?
• Give examples of how the concept of life chances operates in the following systems:
•a caste system
•a class system
•a one-party, Communist system (such as China)
In your own words, please post a response to the Discussion Board and comment on other postings. You will be graded on the quality of your postings.