Beginning of Essay
Two major approaches to are the Marxian materialist approach and the structural functionalist approach. The materialist approach was developed from the work of Karl Marx, who believed that the economic order shapes society. The functionalist approach was develo ....

Middle of Essay
.... must perform specific functions to meet problems or satisfy needs. This is achieved by institutions such as the family, economic, educational, and religious orders. It is the make up of the interrelated institutions that form society, as the interrelated organs make up the human body. The materialist approach argues that humans are unique because we can produce solutions for material wants and needs; that material production is the most important human activity (Knuttila, 1996, p.163). It is the way we organize our solutions to wants and needs that shapes society. The manner in which we satisfy our needs is referred to as our modes of productio ....