Download Famous Sociologists

FAMOUS SOCIOLOGISTS
The men & women who shaped Sociology
Sociology and Revolution
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Intellectual Revolution (Enlightenment)
French Revolution
Industrial Revolution
Urban Revolution
Why were these periods each significant to the
need for Sociology?
Auguste Comte (1798-1857)
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French philosopher
Founder of Sociology / coined the term “Sociology”
Searched for solutions to the chaos that caused the
French Revolution.
Scientific Method
“Sociologists should be concerned with
the problems of order & change.”
Comte’s 2 Key Questions
1.
2.
What forces bring order to a
society?
What forces bring change to a
society?
Herbert Spencer (1820-1903)
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Influenced by Darwin, Spencer took Comte’s
ideas and added the idea of natural selection.
 “Social
Darwinism”- “Survival of the Fittest”
 The more naturally advanced groups will survive over
the weakest groups in society.
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Did not believe in social reform because it
interfered with natural selection
Capitalists loved Spencer!
Why is social Darwinism flawed?
Because biologically, race DOESN’T EXIST!
Emile Durkheim (1858-1917)
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French philosophy teacher
Taught the 1st ever social science course in France
Applied science to the study of society
Continued Comte’s work & looked for function of
elements in society.
 What
purpose does something in society serve to keep
order or bring about change?
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1st Sociologist to test theories through statistical
analysis.
Rapid change leads to breakdown in traditional
organization and values
Karl Marx (1818-1883)
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German born to middle-class parents
Doctorate from University of Berlin
Writer, editor of a racial newspaper.
Believed society’s structure is influenced by economy
 Business
owners control society
 Imbalance of power leads to conflict between owners
(bourgeoisie) & laborers (proletariat)
 Deeply troubled by capitalism
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Conflict is the primary cause of social change.
Marx continued
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Bourgeoisie own the means of production (tools,
land, factories, investment capital) and proletariat
must sell their labor to earn a living
Marx believed that the proletariat
would rise up naturally and
overthrow the capitalist
bourgeoisie
Max Weber (1864-1920)
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German born to middle-class parents.
Doctorate from University of Berlin
Founded the German sociological society in 1910
More interested in groups than society as a whole
Uncover the feelings & thoughts of individuals
Verstehen- place yourself in the place of others,
look through their eyes.
Ideal Type- essential characteristic of something in
society.
Weber’s “Ideal Type” Explained
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What is the “ideal” way to greet someone?
Formal Greetings- handshake
Informal Greetings- hug, kiss, “fist bump”, high five...
Essential features
 Ex.
The Handshake
 Simple formal handshake is the “ideal type”
 It contains the basic essential features (shaking hands,
no extras)
Jane Addams (1860-1935)
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“The Mother of Sociology & Social Work”
Founder of the “Chicago School”
Pioneer of Social Work & Feminism
Q: What is Social Work?
Established the Hull House with longtime best friend
Ellen G. Starr in Chicago.
 Settlement
House
 Helped Immigrants in a wide area of things
 1st American Woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize
(1931)