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Chapter 2:Sociology’s Family Tree: Theories and Theorists 1 What is a Theory? • A set of assumptions • Attempts to provide a plausible explanation • Of cause-and-effect (causal) relationships •Among observed phenomenon Origin (from the Greek thorós, a spectator), stresses that all theories are mental models of perceived reality. 2 Theory • Vital to making sense of social life • Facts make sense because we interpret them using categories and assumptions 3 Categories • Class of people or things regarded as having particular shared characteristics 4 Assumptions • Assumptions are beliefs or ideas that we hold to be true — often with little or no evidence required. 5 Assumptions About Human Nature 1. 2. 3. 4. Selfish or Selfless Aggressive or Compassionate Competitive or Cooperative Have basic needs: • • • Food / Water Companionship Perception of control 6 Formal Sociological Theory Formal sociological theorizing makes • Assumptions and categories explicit • Open to examination • Scrutiny, and • Reformulation 7 Practical Theory • Our lives are filled with theories as we try to understand the world around us • Examples: • How do we make friends? • How to succeed in college? • How to get a job? 8 Sociological Theories • Explain the social world and • Make predictions about future events • Theories—Sometimes referred to as Approaches, • Schools of thought, • Paradigms, or • Perspectives 9 Founders of Sociology • Auguste Comte (1798–1857) • Coined the term “sociology” in 1839 • Also used the term “social physics” to refer to the new discipline and… • His organic conceptualization of society 10 Auguste Comte • Sociology is like other scientific disciplines • Groundwork for future sociologists • Helped build the discipline 11 Auguste Comte The Real World: An Introduction to Sociology, 2nd Edition Copyright © 2010 W.W. Norton & Company Founders of Sociology • Harriet Martineau (1802-1876): • A social activist • Supported labor unions • Abolition of slavery • Women’s suffrage • Traveled around the United States • Translated Comte’s work from French into English 13 Harriet Martineau The Real World: An Introduction to Sociology, 2nd Edition Copyright © 2010 W.W. Norton & Company 9/6 Founders of Sociology • Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) • Believed that societies evolve by adapting to the changing environment • Coined the phrase “survival of the fittest” • Philosophy is often referred to as “Social Darwinism” 15 Herbert Spencer The Real World: An Introduction to Sociology, 2nd Edition Copyright © 2010 W.W. Norton & Company Founders of Sociology • Emile Durkheim (1858-1917) • Helped establish sociology as an academic discipline • Interested in the social factors that bond and hold society together • Social solidarity • Mechanical solidarity • Organic solidarity 17 Emile Durkheim The Real World: An Introduction to Sociology, 2nd Edition Copyright © 2010 W.W. Norton & Company Founders of Sociology • Karl Marx (1818-1883) • German philosopher • Political activist • Contributed significantly to sociology’s Conflict Theory 19 Videos about Marx • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ztVeUX8Hpo&feat ure=related • Marxism made simple • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KUl4yfAB E4&feature=related • The Communist Manifesto Cartoon Karl Marx The Real World: An Introduction to Sociology, 2nd Edition Copyright © 2010 W.W. Norton & Company Marx Core Ideas • Reaction to economic & social conditions due to Industrial Revolution • Theory not only interprets the world, but also changes it Marx • Focus: Economic classes • Bourgeoisie--owners • Proletariat--workers 23 Founders of Sociology • Capitalism created social inequality • Between the bourgeoisie, who owned the means of production (money, factories, natural resources, land), and the proletariat, who were the workers • According to Marx, this inequality leads to class conflict 24 Founders of Sociology • Max Weber interested in how society was becoming industrialized and • Rationalization • Economic logic to human activity 25 Max Weber • Contemporary life filled with disenchantment • Dehumanizing of modern societies • Bureaucracy • Capitalism • Oligopolies 26 Weber: Dehumanizing Effect of Modern Society • Modern capitalism--lifelong entrapment of individuals organizational structures • Efficient accumulation of private wealth as end in itself • Humanity's increasing confinement within a bureaucratized, "disenchanted" world, no escape • “The Iron Cage” 27 Max Weber The Real World: An Introduction to Sociology, 2nd Edition Copyright © 2010 W.W. Norton & Company Modern Schools of Thought • • • • • Structural Functionalism: Society as: Stable Ordered system Interrelated parts (structures) 29 Structural Functionalism • • • • • Social institutions: Family Education Politics Economy • Each meets a need of society • Function 30 Modern Schools of Thought • Conflict Theory: • Social conflict as basis: • Of society and • Social change • Source of Conflict: Inequality 31 Conflict theory • Conflict and tension • Basic to social life • Disagreements over goals & values • Struggles • Resources • Power 32 Conflict theory • • • • Focus on: Dominance Competition Social change 33 Conflict theory 1. Materialist • Labor and Economic reality 2. Critical of existing arrangements 3. Dynamic historical change • Societal transformation inevitable 34 Modern Schools of Thought • Symbolic Interactionism: • Interaction & Symbols • Meaning not inherent in object • Shared meaning through • Face-to-face interaction • Using symbols 35 New Theoretical Approaches • Feminist Theory: • Gender inequalities • How gender structures social world • Remedies to inequalities 36 New Theoretical Approaches: Queer Theory • Categories of sexual identity are social constructs • No sexual category is fundamentally deviant or normal 37 New Theoretical Approaches Postmodernist Theory • • • • Social reality is: Diverse Changing No truth, reason, right, order, or stability • Everything relative & temporary 38 Theory in Everyday Life The Real World: An Introduction to Sociology, 2nd Edition Copyright © 2010 W.W. Norton & Company Theory in Everyday Life Perspective Level of Analysis Focus of Analysis Case Study The Real World: An Introduction to Sociology, 2nd Edition Copyright © 2010 W.W. Norton & Company