Living in Times of Exponential Growth

 

1. What is linear growth vs exponential growth? 

Can you give real-world sociological or 

technological examples of each?

2. Tyson suggests that many people think in linear 

terms, even when change is exponential. 

Why do you think that is?

3. What social or policy risks stem from underestimating 

exponential change (e.g., in technology, 

population, climate)?

4. Tyson walks us through innovation from the 19th 

to the 21st century. According to him, how has the 

pace of innovation changed? (Refer to the video’s 

timeline.)

5. Are our social institutions (education, government, 

business) structurally capable of responding to 

exponential change? Why or why not?

6. What reforms or new institutions might be 

necessary to deal with accelerating change?

7. Which social groups are most likely to benefit 

from exponential technological growth? Which 

might be disadvantaged?

8. Do you feel empowered or anxious about living 

in a time of such rapid change? Why?

9. What ethical dilemmas arise from rapid 

technological innovation (e.g., privacy, surveillance, 

job displacement)?

The Industrial Revolution

 

The Industrial Revolution

1. Did the Industrial Revolution improve the quality of life for 

the working class more than it harmed it?

2. Does industrialization inevitably lead to the exploitation 

of labor?

3. Was the rise of industrial capitalism the main cause of 

modern class inequality?

4. Was child labor during the Industrial Revolution a necessary 

stage in economic development?

5. Did the shift from home-based production to factory work 

erode traditional community life?

6. Did urbanization during the Industrial Revolution improve 

social mobility?

7. Were industrial cities more socially progressive than rural 

communities?

8. Did the rise of the industrial city lead to the decline of moral 

and community values?

Critical Theory. Discussion.

 

Critical Theory. Analytical Elements. Debate. 

1. Can you identify examples of reification in contemporary society 

(e.g., education, media, workplace, technology)?

2. When we talk about “the market” or “the economy” as if they

were independent actors (“the market demands…”), are 

we engaging in reification? Why or why not?

3. How does social media contribute to reification — of people, 

relationships, or even emotions?

4. Why might reification be seen as problematic for critical 

theory and emancipatory politics?

5. How does reification limit people’s ability to see that 

society could be organized differently?

6. Do you think reification is inevitable in modern society, 

or can it be overcome?

7. Can you identify examples of cultural hegemony in 

everyday life (e.g., advertising, education, popular 

culture)?

8. Think about language: how can words or phrases 

reinforce hegemonic ideas (e.g., calling someone 

“self-made”)?

9. How does the entertainment industry (movies, 

music, TV, social media) contribute to reinforcing 

dominant ideologies?

10. What role do schools play in sustaining or 

challenging cultural hegemony?

Marx. A Very Brief Introduction

 

What is Marxism? | Marxism Explained.

1. What is Marxism?

2. Explain the main topics of the Communist Manifesto.

3. What would be the origin of Revolutionary Communism?

4. Explain the dynamics of class conflict in the context of capitalism.

5. Explain the notions of bourgeoisie and proletariat.

6. What is Alienation, according to Marx?

7. What is the role of the institutions (education, religion, law, etc.) 

in the Marxist scheme?

8. “Capitalism contains the seed of its own destruction”, says Marx. 

Do you agree with this idea? Justify your answer.

The Human Stain

 

The Murder of Trayvon Martin

 

The Trayvor Martin Case. 

1. How did race and racial stereotypes influence the events 

surrounding Trayvon Martin's death?

2. What does this case reveal about systemic racial inequality 

in policing and criminal justice?

3. Compare public reactions to Trayvon Martin's case to similar 

incidents involving individuals of other races.

4. Discuss how societal norms and values may have framed 

Trayvon Martin as "deviant" in Zimmerman's eyes.

…………………………………………………………..

5. How does Trayvon Martin's case illustrate the concept of 

labeling?

6. What role did cultural symbols (hoodies, race, language) 

play in the interactions leading up to Trayvon Martin's death?

…………………………………………………..

7. How do societal fears about crime influence the actions of 

individuals like George Zimmerman?

8. What role do neighborhood watch programs play in maintaining 

community safety? Are they always beneficial?

Hate Crimes - Debate

Hate Crimes: 

1. How do bias, prejudice, and discrimination contribute to 

hate crimes?

2. What are the psychological and emotional effects of hate 

crimes on victims and their communities?

3. What role can communities play in preventing and responding 

to hate crimes?

4. How has globalization impacted the spread of hate ideologies 

and hate crimes?

5. How does online hate speech contribute to offline hate crimes?

6. How does political polarization contribute to the rise of hate 

crimes?