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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What factor besides luck affects gambling on sports, according to Veblen?

2. How does Veblen describe anthropomorphic cults?

3. According to Veblen, ethnic types during his time were variations of what?

4. What does Veblen say is the most serious occupation of the leisure class?

5. When, according to Veblen, does the leisure class change most?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Veblen describe the gambling temperament?

2. How is education similar to the observance of devotional functions and magic?

3. What temperament does Veblen say characterizes the leisure class, and how does the leisure class change?

4. What traits in men are required for the success of a community, in Veblen's description?

5. How do men change over time according to Veblen?

6. How does Veblen's book reveal Darwin's influence?

7. How are organizations organized around devout observances?

8. What is martial spirit, and which classes demonstrate it?

9. How do the leisure classes change over time?

10. What are the ethnic types Veblen defines, and how does he describe them?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The master-slave dialectic posits that the masters need the slaves and that the slaves cannot function in an organized way without the masters. But Veblen's theories of vicarious leisure and vicarious consumption describe the servant class as mere evidence of the wealth of the master class. What economic agency does Veblen attribute to the servant class? Does the servant class make itself necessary to the leisure class?

Essay Topic 2

At what rank does the leisure class end in industrial culture? Is it just the upper classes, or are all people leisure class if they are anywhere above subsistence?

Essay Topic 3

Describe how "The Theory of the Leisure Class" applies to two professions: one where the profession fits Veblen's language very well, and another where Veblen's language does not apply as neatly.

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This section contains 961 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample