#25 -

[Jeff Wren]

Question Line Reference
(See the complete passage discussion here: viewtopic.php?f=896&t=38309

The correct answer choice is (E).

This question is asking about how the social control theorists would view the motives of the Victorian philanthropists. The social control thesis is discussed in the second paragraph. (A quick word search for "social control" should take you to the right spot in the passage if needed.)

According to this view, "philanthropy, in short, was a means of controlling the labor force and ensuring the continued dominance of the management class" (lines 31-34). In other words, the Victorian philanthropists weren't doing the philanthropy to actually help those in need, but rather for their own selfish benefit.

Answer A compares the Victorian philanthropists' desire for social status to their desire for economic gain. While both benefits are mentioned in this paragraph, there is no discussion or suggestion of one being more important than the other.

Answer B is really addressing the first criticism of Victorian philanthropy that it was obsolete and inadequate. This is not the focus/concern of the social control theorists.

Like Answer B, Answer C is also really addressing the first criticism of Victorian philanthropy that it was obsolete and inadequate. This is not the focus/concern of the social control theorists. In addition, the social control theorists would not consider the Victorian philanthropists "well intentioned," as the whole point was to benefit themselves at the expense of the workers according to the social control theory.

Similar to Answer C, Answer D is also an opposite answer. The social control theorists didn't believe that the Victorian philanthropists had any real concern about the welfare of the poor, intellectual or otherwise.

Answer E is the correct answer. Since Victorian philanthropy was a means of controlling the labor force, and this was the true motive of the philanthropists according to the social control theorists, it was a means to an end rather than an end in itself. In other words, the Victorian philanthropists didn't really care about the philanthrophy's actual effect on the poor (which would be "an end in itself").

[ikim10]

I was stuck between (B) and (E). Can someone explain why (E) is correct?

[Paul Popa]

Hi Kim,

I 'd be happy to help with that! (B) starts out great: "Victorian philanthropists encouraged such values as thrift and temperance in order to..." We see this from the passage, and want it to end with something along the lines of "to create more productive members of the labor force." Instead, (B) goes on to say: "instill in the working class the same acquisitiveness that characterized the management class." This is, in fact, the opposite of what the philanthropists wanted, according to the social control theorists. "Acquisitiveness" means excessive interest in acquiring money or material things, and the philanthropists did not want to encourage that. If the labor force were to become more like the management class, that would mean more competition for wealth, and they wanted a more prudent, thrifty, and temperate workforce! So (B) is out.

(E) is a better answer here because, according to the social control theorists, the philanthropists did in fact see philanthropy as a means to an end rather than as an end in itself. Philanthropy wasn't done to just be philanthropic; it was done with the hope of creating a more productive workforce, thus as a means to an end. Hope this helps!