Q.94 Max Weber used the term 'Class' to refer to a group of people who have similar level of _______
A. Education
B. Income
C. Status
D. Technical skill
E. Wealth

Choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

Correct option is B

B, C and E Only

Max Weber's understanding of social stratification is multi-dimensional, going beyond Karl Marx's purely economic view of class. Weber identified three distinct dimensions of stratification: Class, Status, and Party (or Power).

Let's focus on his definition of 'Class':

For Weber, a class refers to a group of people who share a similar "market situation." This "market situation" is primarily determined by their economic position and their ability to acquire goods, services, and opportunities in the market. More specifically, a person's class is related to:

B. Income: The money one earns from wages, salaries, investments, etc. This directly reflects one's economic position in the market.

E. Wealth: The total sum of one's assets, including property, savings, and other valuables. Wealth represents accumulated economic resources and significantly impacts one's market situation and life chances.

While C. Status is also a crucial dimension in Weber's stratification theory, it is distinct from 'class'.

Status refers to social honor, prestige, or lifestyle. It is based on evaluations of social esteem, regardless of purely economic position. For example, a respected teacher might have high status but only moderate income.

A. Education and D. Technical skill are certainly factors that can influence one's income and wealth (and therefore one's class position), and can also contribute to one's status. However, Weber did not define 'class' directly by education or technical skill themselves, but rather by the economic outcomes these factors might lead to (income and wealth). They are means to achieve a class position, rather than being the defining characteristics of class itself.

Therefore, when Weber uses the term 'Class', he primarily refers to shared economic interests and life chances based on similar levels of Income (B) and Wealth (E). While status (C) is part of his broader stratification model, it is a separate dimension from class.

Hence, the most appropriate answer is B, C and E Only, as option 2 states, because it correctly includes Income and Wealth as determinants of class, and acknowledges Status as a related but distinct dimension often discussed alongside class in Weberian analysis, despite being a separate axis of stratification. However, if the question is strictly about 'Class' as distinct from 'Status' in Weber, then 'Income' and 'Wealth' are the most direct components. The inclusion of 'Status' in the correct option implies that the question is asking about the economic and social position as described by Weber's class, status, and power framework, where class relates to economic position, and income and wealth are the primary indicators of that economic position. Given the options, B, C, and E represent the most comprehensive set of direct and closely related concepts to Weber's multi-dimensional view when considering "class" in a broader sense of socioeconomic position.

Re-evaluating the provided answer (2. B, C and E Only) in light of Weber's distinct categories:

Class: Based on economic factors (market situation, income, wealth). So, B (Income) and E (Wealth) are core to Weberian class.

Status: Based on social honor, prestige, and lifestyle. So, C (Status) is a separate dimension of stratification.

If the question is strictly asking what Weber used "Class" to refer to, then only Income and Wealth would be correct. However, in multiple-choice questions about Weber's stratification, often 'class', 'status', and 'party' are presented as a package. Given the options, and the common way Weber's stratification is taught, "B, C and E Only" is selected. This suggests the question intends to encompass the broader socioeconomic stratification aspects related to one's position, where status is also a key part of how individuals are grouped. But for a precise definition of "class" by Weber, it's income and wealth. The ambiguity arises from whether "Class" in the question is used in its strict Weberian sense or as a general term for socioeconomic grouping. If it's the latter, then Income, Status, and Wealth are all relevant. Given that option 2 is marked correct, it implies this broader interpretation where status is included alongside the economic indicators that define class.