Question

#!. Use the following statement by Robert Owen to answer the question below: \"..but I know that society may be formed so as to exist without crime, without poverty, with health greatly improved, with little if any misery, and with intelligence and happiness increased a hundredfold: and no obstacle whatsoever intervenes [interferes] at this moment except ignorance to prevent such a state of society from becoming universal.\" Source: Robert Owen, Rules and Regulations for the Inhabitants of New Lanark. What is one reason why Marx would disagree with this statement? A) Marx did not think society could live peacefully. B) Marx did not think society could live without crime.

C) This statement advocates the use of education.

D) This statement ignores the process of revolution.
#2. Use the following excerpt from Robert Owen to answer the question below:

"Train any population rationally, and they will be rational. Furnish honest and useful employments to those so trained, and such employments they will greatly prefer to dishonest or injurious occupations. It is beyond all calculation the interest of every government to provide that training and that employment; and to provide both is easily practicable."

Source: A New View of Society - Essays 1813-1816, Robert Owen

In what way might Adam Smith have disagreed with this statement?

A) Smith believed that education was only for the poor.

B) Smith believed that workers could not be trained to work.

C) Smith believed that the government's role was very limited.

D) Smith believed that the government should directly employ people.

Answer 1

#1. The one reason why Marx would disagree in the statement above is because the statement ignores the process of revolution. The answer would be letter D.

#2. The way that Adam Smith might have disagreed with this statement is that Smith believed that the government's role was very limited.

Answer 2

1. D) This statement ignores the process of revolution.

Marx believed revolution created a state of peace and stability. He would disagree with Owen that a society can just be created to be peaceful. Marx would believed the consensus of the people and overthrow of elite create societies where all are taken care of.

2. C) Smith believed that the government's role was very limited.

Smith believed in limited government and the training of the population would be an overstep of the government. Smith would disagree with a government providing education and training to all people of a country. In doing so, the government becomes too large and controlling in particular in the economy.