Final answer:
Karl Marx believed that economic conflicts, especially between social classes, drive societal change, contrasting with Durkheim's and Comte's views. The capitalist system's inherent class struggle would, according to Marx, lead to a classless society, forming the basis of Marxism.
Step-by-step explanation:
Karl Marx, a pivotal figure in social theory, posited that social change was primarily driven by economic forces rather than ideas or values, which was in contrast to Emile Durkheim and Auguste Comte's perspectives. Marx focused on how the conflicts between social classes, particularly between the bourgeoisie (owners of the means of production) and the proletariat (workers), would lead to transformations within society. He argued that the capitalist system, which thrived during the Industrial Revolution, resulted in significant disparities in wealth and class struggle, which would ultimately give rise to a revolution leading to a classless society. This philosophy is at the core of what is known as Marxism and greatly influences the sociological perspective of social conflict theory.