Question 1

Indian mathematician Brahmagupta described gravity over one thousand years before Isaac Newton.

Accepted Answer

Brahmagupta, an Indian mathematician and astronomer who lived in the 7th century, described gravity as an attractive force and noted that objects fall towards the Earth, concepts that predate Isaac Newton's formalization of gravity by over a millennium.

Question 2

The Enlightenment marked an increase in religious influence on society throughout Europe.

Accepted Answer

The Enlightenment was characterized by a decline in the influence of organized religion and an increase in secular ideas and rational thought across Europe.

Question 3

A bureaucracy is a kind of machine made of humans.

Accepted Answer

A bureaucracy functions similarly to a machine in that it is a highly organized system of administration characterized by detailed procedures and rules, which are executed by its members (humans) to achieve efficiency and predictability in managing large organizations.

Question 4

An independent local coffee shop is an example of a business in favor of rationalization.

Accepted Answer

Rationalization refers to the process of making tasks more efficient, often through standardization and the use of technology, typically seen in larger, chain businesses rather than small, independent ones.

Question 5

Anything mass-produced is by definition cultural commodification.

Accepted Answer

Cultural commodification specifically refers to the process of turning aspects of a culture into commodities for sale, which doesn't necessarily apply to all mass-produced items. Many mass-produced items may have no cultural significance and are simply products of industrial production.

Question 6

Karl Marx felt that the commodification of labor dehumanizes workers in the eyes of employers.

Accepted Answer

Karl Marx argued that under capitalism, the commodification of labor leads to workers being seen merely as commodities or tools for production, rather than as human beings, which he believed dehumanizes them in the eyes of their employers.

Question 7

The assembly line makes production faster, but also makes employees much easier to replace.

Accepted Answer

The assembly line standardizes the production process into simple, repetitive tasks, which reduces the need for skilled labor and makes individual workers more easily replaceable.

Question 8

A society based on organic solidarity has a much simpler division of labor.

Accepted Answer

Organic solidarity is characteristic of more complex societies with a highly specialized division of labor, where individuals depend on each other's specialized functions, unlike in simpler societies based on mechanical solidarity with a simpler division of labor.

Question 9

Frederick Taylor believed that factory workers have limited mental abilities.

Accepted Answer

Frederick Taylor, known for his work in scientific management, held the view that factory workers were not capable of understanding complex tasks and thus needed to be given simple, repetitive tasks to maximize efficiency.

Question 10

Under capitalism, if a worker creates more surplus value for the owner, he or she is entitled to be paid more as a reward.

Accepted Answer

Under capitalism, wages are not directly tied to the amount of surplus value a worker creates. Instead, wages are determined by the labor market, agreements between employers and employees, and other factors such as minimum wage laws. The surplus value is typically retained by the owner or reinvested in the business.

Question 11

Workers who have no creative control over the products they make tend to feel alienated.

Accepted Answer

This concept aligns with Karl Marx's theory of alienation, which suggests that workers who do not have control over their work process or the products of their labor tend to feel estranged or disconnected from their work, leading to feelings of alienation.

Question 12

In the U.S., only 13% of people were employed in the good producing sector in 2016, compared to 45% in 1910.

Accepted Answer

Over the 20th century and into the 21st, the U.S. economy has shifted from a manufacturing-based economy to a service-based economy. This has led to a significant decrease in the percentage of the workforce employed in the goods-producing sector (including manufacturing, construction, and mining) from 45% in 1910 to around 13% in 2016, reflecting broader trends in automation, globalization, and economic restructuring.

Question 13

Service sector jobs tend to have higher salaries than other occupations.

Accepted Answer

Service sector jobs encompass a wide range of occupations, including both high-paying roles (such as those in finance, technology, and professional services) and lower-paying roles (such as those in retail, hospitality, and personal services), making it inaccurate to generalize that they tend to have higher salaries than other occupations.

Question 14

Tourism, banking, and teaching are all service sector jobs.

Accepted Answer

Tourism, banking, and teaching all involve providing services rather than producing goods, which classifies them as service sector jobs.

Question 15

Precarious labor is often dirty, dangerous, and demeaning.

Accepted Answer

Precarious labor often involves jobs that are insecure, poorly paid, and lack protection and benefits, which can lead to conditions that are dirty, dangerous, and demeaning for workers.

Question 16

Do the benefits of rationalization outweigh the disadvantages? Be sure to discuss at least two benefits and two disadvantages.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Do the benefits of rationalization outweigh the...

Question 17

Explain the process of cultural commodification and provide a specific example. Do you think cultural commodification is a problem? Why or why not? Use details and examples to support your answer.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain the process of cultural commodification and...

Question 18

Evaluate scientific management in terms of productivity, efficiency, and effects on workers as well as owners. Include a discussion of Frederick Taylor, Henry Ford, Émile Durkheim, and Karl Marx in relation to this question.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Evaluate scientific management in terms of productivity,...

Question 19

Discuss the four ways Karl Marx asserted that capitalism distorts the process of work from its previous forms.

Accepted Answer

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Question 20

Predict outcomes if the trend toward automating good production sector jobs continues. What other types of jobs may emerge? Be sure to discuss precarious employment and emotional labor, using details and examples to support your answer.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Predict outcomes if the trend toward automating...

Quiz 10: Work and Rationalization