Sociological Theories (Ibn-i-Khaldun, Spencer, Max Weber, Karl Marx) – MCQs

Who is the philosopher behind Marxism?

A) Friedrich Nietzsche

B) Karl Marx

C) Sigmund Freud

D) Jean-Paul Sartre

What is the primary focus of Marxism in sociology?

A) Cultural analysis

B) Socioeconomic analysis

C) Political analysis

D) Historical analysis

How does Marx define the value of a good?

A) In terms of its utility

B) In terms of its price in the market

C) In terms of the amount of labor needed to produce it

D) In terms of its scarcity

According to Marxism, which group exploits the labor of the proletariat for profit?

A) The aristocracy

B) The bourgeoisie

C) The proletariat

D) The working class

What does the term “means of production” refer to in Marxism?

A) The physical tools used in production

B) The workforce

C) The raw materials

D) Everything needed to produce goods in a society

What is the primary criticism of capitalism according to Marx?

A) Its focus on consumerism

B) Its exploitation of the people with low incom by the rich

C) Its lack of technological advancement

D) Its impact on the environment

What did Marx predict would happen after the fall of capitalism?

A) A return to feudalism

B) A global socialist revolution

C) The rise of a new form of capitalism

D) The establishment of a totalitarian regime

What is the term used to describe the majority of society who do not own property?

A) Aristocracy

B) Proletariat

C) Bourgeoisie

D) Feudal lords

According to Marx, what is the role of false consciousness?

A) To promote revolutionary ideas

B) To obscure the true nature of social and economic situations

C) To encourage class solidarity

D) To maintain the status quo

What is the primary focus of Marxism in sociology?

A) Cultural analysis

B) Socioeconomic analysis

C) Political analysis

D) Historical analysis

According to Marxism, what is the primary cause of alienation in capitalist societies?

A) Lack of social mobility

B) Economic inequality

C) Division of labor

D) Political repression

What does Marxism believe about economic systems in societies?

A) They are static and unchanging

B) They go through stages of development

C) They are determined by cultural factors

D) They are irrelevant to social structures

What is the term used to describe the highest stage of communism according to Marx?

A) Early communal societies

B) Advanced communism

C) Feudalism

D) Capitalist society

What is the economic basis supporting bourgeoisie exploitation, according to Marxism?

A) Ownership of the means of production

B) Labor unions

C) Government regulations

D) Technological advancement

What is the primary conflict in Marxism?

A) Conflict between nations

B) Conflict between social classes

C) Conflict between religions

D) Conflict between genders

What is the primary criticism of Marxism?

A) Its lack of empirical evidence

B) Its oversimplification of economic systems

C) Its failure to predict socialist revolutions

D) Its focus on cultural factors

What is the philosophical approach to culture that seeks to confront the social, historical, and ideological forces of power?

A) Critical theory

B) Postmodernism

C) Structuralism

D) Functionalism

What is the term used to describe the method of using scientific, systematic, and objective methods in Marxism?

A) Marxist philosophy

B) Marxist method

C) Critical theory

D) False consciousness

How does Marxism view the role of capitalists in achieving profit?

A) Through fair competition

B) By exploiting the labor of workers

C) By investing in technology

D) Through government subsidies

What is the primary focus of Marxism in sociology?

A) Cultural analysis

B) Socioeconomic analysis

C) Political analysis

D) Historical analysis

What did Karl Marx argue were the two primary social classes in society?

A) Upper class and middle class

B) Proletariat and bourgeoisie

C) Aristocracy and peasantry

D) Intellectuals and workers

According to Marx, what is the primary source of conflict in society?

A) Religious differences

B) Ethnicity

C) Class struggle

D) Political ideology

What does Marx argue is the main goal of the bourgeoisie in a capitalist society?

A) To maintain social order

B) To promote economic equality

C) To exploit the labor of the proletariat

D) To establish a communist society

How does Marx describe the relationship between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat?

A) Cooperative and mutually beneficial

B) Antagonistic and exploitative

C) Equal and fair

D) Hierarchical and oppressive

What role does Marx attribute to competition and profit in capitalist societies?

A) They promote social harmony

B) They lead to class cooperation

C) They drive exploitation and conflict

D) They encourage equality and fairness

According to Marx, what is the ultimate fate of capitalism?

A) It will lead to increased prosperity for all

B) It will collapse due to internal contradictions

C) It will evolve into a more equitable system

D) It will be sustained indefinitely

What is Marx’s proposed solution to the problems of capitalism?

A) Social welfare programs

B) Democratic reforms

C) Revolution and communism

D) Free market reforms

What is the key feature of communism according to Marx?

A) Private ownership of the means of production

B) Class struggle

C) Collective ownership of the means of production

D) Economic competition

What does Marx view as the primary cause of alienation in capitalist societies?

A) Lack of social mobility

B) Economic inequality

C) Division of labor

D) Political repression

How does Marx describe the relationship between technology and alienation?

A) Technology reduces alienation

B) Technology increases alienation

C) Technology has no impact on alienation

D) Technology depends on alienation

According to Marx, what is the role of historical materialism in societal development?

A) It explains the role of ideas in history

B) It describes the stages of economic development

C) It predicts future technological advancements

D) It analyzes the impact of religion on society

What is the first stage in Marx’s theory of historical materialism?

A) Primitive communism

B) Feudalism

C) Capitalism

D) Communism

What is the central idea of Marx’s theory of historical materialism?

A) The role of technology in societal development

B) The impact of religion on social change

C) The influence of ideas on historical progress

D) The role of economic forces in shaping society

According to Marx, what is the ultimate goal of historical development?

A) Economic equality

B) Social harmony

C) Class struggle

D) Communism

What is the primary focus of Marx’s conflict theory?

A) Conflict between individuals

B) Conflict between social classes

C) Conflict between nations

D) Conflict between genders

How does Marx describe the power dynamics in a capitalist society?

A) Power is evenly distributed among all classes

B) Power is concentrated in the hands of the proletariat

C) Power is concentrated in the hands of the bourgeoisie

D) Power is decentralized and fluid

What is the main criticism of Marx’s theory of historical materialism?

A) It oversimplifies the complexity of societal development

B) It ignores the role of culture and ideology in history

C) It is too focused on economic factors

D) It lacks empirical evidence

How does Marx view the role of education in perpetuating capitalist ideology?

A) Education promotes critical thinking and social change

B) Education reinforces capitalist values and norms

C) Education encourages class consciousness

D) Education challenges the status quo

What is the main criticism of Marx’s theory of alienation?

A) It neglects the positive aspects of work

B) It is too focused on economic factors

C) It does not account for individual differences

D) It overlooks the role of technology

How does Marx describe the relationship between technology and alienation?

A) Technology reduces alienation

B) Technology increases alienation

C) Technology has no impact on alienation

D) Technology depends on alienation

According to Marx, what is the primary cause of alienation in capitalist societies?

A) Lack of social mobility

B) Economic inequality

C) Division of labor

D) Political repression

How does Marx view the role of historical materialism in societal development?

A) It explains the role of ideas in history

B) It describes the stages of economic development

C) It predicts future technological advancements

D) It analyzes the impact of religion on society

What is the first stage in Marx’s theory of historical materialism?

A) Primitive communism

B) Feudalism

C) Capitalism

D) Communism

What is the central idea of Marx’s theory of historical materialism?

A) The role of technology in societal development

B) The impact of religion on social change

C) The influence of ideas on historical progress

D) The role of economic forces in shaping society

According to Marx, what is the ultimate goal of historical development?

A) Economic equality

B) Social harmony

C) Class struggle

D) Communism

What is the primary focus of Marx’s conflict theory?

A) Conflict between individuals

B) Conflict between social classes

C) Conflict between nations

D) Conflict between genders

How does Marx describe the power dynamics in a capitalist society?

A) Power is evenly distributed among all classes

B) Power is concentrated in the hands of the proletariat

C) Power is concentrated in the hands of the bourgeoisie

D) Power is decentralized and fluid

What is the main criticism of Marx’s theory of historical materialism?

A) It oversimplifies the complexity of societal development

B) It ignores the role of culture and ideology in history

C) It is too focused on economic factors

D) It lacks empirical evidence

How does Marx view the role of education in perpetuating capitalist ideology?

A) Education promotes critical thinking and social change

B) Education reinforces capitalist values and norms

C) Education encourages class consciousness

D) Education challenges the status quo

What is the main criticism of Marx’s theory of alienation?

A) It neglects the positive aspects of work

B) It is too focused on economic factors

C) It does not account for individual differences

D) It overlooks the role of technology

What is the most important contribution of Herbert Spencer to Sociology?

A) The theory of evolution

B) The theory of social stratification

C) The theory of social contract

D) The theory of social change

What principles did Herbert Spencer utilize to explain social evolution?

A) Physical and biological evolution

B) Social and cultural evolution

C) Economic and political evolution

D) Psychological and philosophical evolution

According to Herbert Spencer, what is the movement in physical evolution?

A) From simple to complex and homogeneity to heterogeneity

B) From complex to simple and heterogeneity to homogeneity

C) From uniformity to diversity and complexity to simplicity

D) From diversity to uniformity and simplicity to complexit

Which of the following is one of the three basic laws of evolution according to Spencer?

A) The law of social equilibrium

B) The law of social contract

C) The law of persistence of force

D) The law of social stratification

What does the principle of the persistence of force state?

A) Energy tends to persist without change

B) Matter is indestructible

C) Motion is continuous and never wholly dissipated

D) All of the above

According to Spencer, what is the principle of least resistance or greatest attraction?

A) Evolution tends to move in the direction of least resistance

B) Evolution tends to move in the direction of greatest attraction

C) Both a and b

D) None of the above

What does Spencer argue is the ultimate fate of all phenomena in nature?

A) Stability

B) Growth

C) Dissolution

D) Equilibrium

According to Spencer, what is the condition of homogeneity?

A) Stable equilibrium

B) Unstable equilibrium

C) Dynamic equilibrium

D) None of the above

What is the concept borrowed by Spencer from biological evolution for his theory of social evolution?

A) Survival of the fittest

B) Natural selection

C) Adaptation

D) Speciation

What does Spencer believe is the fate of weak creatures in the struggle for existence?

A) They survive and evolve

B) They make progress

C) They are gradually eliminated

D) They adapt to the environment

According to Spencer, what are the underlying principles of all evolution?

A) Movement from simple to complex

B) Movement from homogeneous to heterogeneous

C) Both a and b

D) None of the above

What is the first stage in Spencer’s theory of social evolution?

A) The movement from simple to compound societies

B) The change from militant society to industrial society

C) The movement from compound to doubly compound societies

D) The movement from trebly compound to great civilized nations

What is the defining characteristic of a simple society according to Spencer?

A) It forms a single working whole un-subjected to any other

B) It has a well-defined hierarchy

C) It is industrialized

D) It has a complex division of labor

How does Spencer describe compound societies?

A) Predominantly small and lacking stable relationship structure

B) Predominantly settled agricultural societies

C) Characterized by a division of social strata and an organized priestly group

D) All of the above

What is the term used by Spencer to describe societies that have undergone a peaceful or violent merger of two or more simple societies?

A) Compound societies

B) Doubly compound societies

C) Trebly compound societies

D) Great civilized nations

Which of the following is NOT one of the criticisms of Herbert Spencer’s theory of social evolution?

A) Lack of practicability

B) Lack of uniformity

C) Ignoring the role of natural selection

D) Ignoring human qualities like sympathy and love

According to Spencer, what is the fate of civilizations that are unable to make adjustments with changing circumstances?

A) They survive and thrive

B) They gradually become extinct

C) They remain stagnant

D) They regress

Which stage of Spencer’s theory of social evolution involves a change from militant society to industrial society?

A) The movement from simple to compound societies

B) The change from compound to doubly compound societies

C) The change from trebly compound to great civilized nations

D) None of the above

What does Spencer believe is the ultimate fate of all phenomena in nature?

A) Stability

B) Growth

C) Dissolution

D) Equilibriu

What does Spencer argue is the ultimate fate of all phenomena in nature?

A) Stability

B) Growth

C) Dissolution

D) Equilibrium

What is the ultimate cause that transcends knowledge, according to Spencer?

A) The persistence of force

B) The indestructibility of matter

C) The continuity of motion

D) None of the above

According to Spencer, what is the cause of evolution?

A) Energy

B) Force

C) Matter

D) All of the above

What is the underlying principle of physical evolution, according to Spencer?

A) Movement from simple to complex

B) Movement from homogeneous to heterogeneous

C) Both a and b

D) None of the above

What is the second law of evolution, according to Spencer?

A) Matter is indestructible

B) Energy tends to persist

C) Motion is continuous

D) None of the above

According to Spencer, what is the direction of evolution?

A) Towards the line of least resistance

B) Towards the line of greatest attraction

C) Both a and b

D) None of the above

What is the principle of formal changes and uniformity?

A) Matter and motion are not completely destroyed

B) They undergo changes in form only

C) Both a and b

D) None of the above

According to Spencer, what is the direction of evolution?

A) Towards the line of least resistance

B) Towards the line of greatest attraction

C) Both a and b

D) None of the above

What does Spencer argue is the ultimate fate of all phenomena in nature?

A) Stability

B) Growth

C) Dissolution

D) Equilibrium

What is the ultimate cause that transcends knowledge, according to Spencer?

A) The persistence of force

B) The indestructibility of matter

C) The continuity of motion

D) None of the above

According to Spencer, what is the cause of evolution?

A) Energy

B) Force

C) Matter

D) All of the above

What is the underlying principle of physical evolution, according to Spencer?

A) Movement from simple to complex

B) Movement from homogeneous to heterogeneous

C) Both a and b

D) None of the above

What is the second law of evolution, according to Spencer?

A) Matter is indestructible

B) Energy tends to persist

C) Motion is continuous

D) None of the above

According to Spencer, what is the direction of evolution?

A) Towards the line of least resistance

B) Towards the line of greatest attraction

C) Both a and b

D) None of the above

What is the principle of formal changes and uniformity?

A) Matter and motion are not completely destroyed

B) They undergo changes in form only

C) Both a and b

D) None of the above

According to Spencer, what is the direction of evolution?

A) Towards the line of least resistance

B) Towards the line of greatest attraction

C) Both a and b

D) None of the above

What does Spencer argue is the ultimate fate of all phenomena in nature?

A) Stability

B) Growth

C) Dissolution

D) Equilibrium

What is the ultimate cause that transcends knowledge, according to Spencer?

A) The persistence of force

B) The indestructibility of matter

C) The continuity of motion

D) None of the above

According to Spencer, what is the cause of evolution?

A) Energy

B) Force

C) Matter

D) All of the above

What is the underlying principle of physical evolution, according to Spencer?

A) Movement from simple to complex

B) Movement from homogeneous to heterogeneous

C) Both a and b

D) None of the above

What is the second law of evolution, according to Spencer?

A) Matter is indestructible

B) Energy tends to persist

C) Motion is continuous

D) None of the above

Which of the following is not a key concept in Ibn-i-Khaldun’s sociological theory?

A) Asabiyyah

B) ‘Umran

C) Taqlid

D) Barakah

According to Ibn-i-Khaldun, what is the driving force behind the rise and fall of civilizations?

A) Economic factors

B) Political factors

C) Social cohesion

D) Group solidarity

Ibn-i-Khaldun’s concept of ‘Umran refers to:

A) Urbanization

B) Civilization

C) Nomadic lifestyle

D) Industrialization

Which of the following is a key contribution of Ibn-i-Khaldun’s theory?

A) The concept of bureaucracy

B) The theory of social change

C) The idea of social classes

D) The concept of rationalization

Max Weber is best known for his work on:

A) Structural functionalism

B) Conflict theory

C) Symbolic interactionism

D) The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism

According to Max Weber, what is the role of rationality in the development of modern society?

A) It leads to the decline of traditional authority

B) It reinforces traditional values

C) It has no impact on society

D) It promotes religious beliefs

Which of the following is not one of Max Weber’s types of authority?

A) Traditional authority

B) Rational-legal authority

C) Charismatic authority

D) Economic authority

Max Weber’s concept of verstehen refers to:

A) Understanding the meaning behind social actions

B) Predicting social behavior

C) Analyzing social structures

D) Quantifying social phenomena

According to Max Weber, what is the Protestant Ethic?

A) A set of religious beliefs

B) A work ethic associated with Protestantism

C) A critique of capitalism

D) A social movement

Which of the following is not a type of rationality identified by Max Weber?

A) Traditional rationality

B) Substantive rationality

C) Instrumental rationality

D) Value rationality

Max Weber’s concept of the iron cage refers to:

A) The loss of freedom in modern society

B) The dominance of the military-industrial complex

C) The decline of religion in society

D) The spread of capitalism

According to Max Weber, what is the main source of authority in a rational-legal society?

A) Tradition

B) Charisma

C) Rational-legal rules

D) Religious beliefs

Max Weber’s theory of bureaucracy emphasizes:

A) Efficiency and rationality

B) Flexibility and innovation

C) Tradition and customs

D) Charismatic leadership

According to Max Weber, what is the relationship between capitalism and the Protestant Ethic?

A) Capitalism is a result of the Protestant Ethic

B) The Protestant Ethic is a result of capitalism

C) They are unrelated

D) They have a reciprocal relationship

Which of the following is not a key element of Max Weber’s analysis of bureaucracy?

A) Division of labor

B) Hierarchy of authority

C) Formal rules and procedures

D) Charismatic leadership

According to Max Weber, what is the role of charisma in social change?

A) It is a source of stability

B) It is a source of conflict

C) It is a source of authority

D) It is a hindrance to progress

Max Weber’s concept of the rationalization of society refers to:

A) The decline of traditional values

B) The dominance of rational thought

C) The spread of bureaucracy

D) The rise of charismatic leaders

Which of the following best describes Max Weber’s theory of social action?

A) Behavior driven by instinct

B) Behavior driven by social norms

C) Behavior driven by rational choices

D) Behavior driven by emotions

Max Weber’s concept of the “spirit of capitalism” refers to:

A) The ethos of hard work and frugality

B) The religious beliefs of capitalists

C) The economic structure of capitalism

D) The social class of capitalists

According to Max Weber, what is the relationship between religion and capitalism?

A) Religion is the cause of capitalism

B) Religion is the result of capitalism

C) Religion and capitalism are unrelated

D) Religion and capitalism have a complex relationship

Which of the following is not a type of authority according to Max Weber?

A) Rational-legal authority

B) Traditional authority

C) Charismatic authority

D) Economic authority

According to Max Weber, what is the main characteristic of modern society?

A) Rationalization

B) Tradition

C) Charisma

D) Irrationality

Max Weber’s concept of the Protestant Ethic is based on the teachings of:

A) Martin Luther

B) John Calvin

C) Henry VIII

D) Pope Leo X

According to Max Weber, what is the role of bureaucracy in modern society?

A) It promotes efficiency

B) It hinders progress

C) It encourages innovation

D) It fosters inequality

Max Weber’s concept of charisma refers to:

A) Personal magnetism

B) Divine inspiration

C) Traditional authority

D) Rational-legal authority

According to Max Weber, what is the relationship between charisma and authority?

A) Charisma is the only source of authority

B) Charisma can undermine traditional authority

C) Charisma can legitimize authority

D) Charisma is irrelevant to authorit

Max Weber’s theory of social change emphasizes the role of:

A) Economic factors

B) Political factors

C) Cultural factors

D) Religious factors

According to Max Weber, what is the significance of rationalization in modern society?