Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Social Progress and Social Problems: Toward a Society of Gloom Joel Best Why do we focus on the problems? The 4 P’s • • • • The Paradox of Perfectionism The Paradox of Proportion The Paradox of Proliferation The Paradox of Paranoia The Paradox of Perfectionism • Runs through American history • We have always strived for a utopian society • In order to create that society, we must focus on problems and find solutions • There will always be unresolved problems • Optimism for an ideal society creates pessimism towards our current society Paradox of Proliferation • Widespread access to media = awareness • People have a more ways that they can make their problems known to the masses • Editorials, talk shows, support groups • Gives the illusion that we have more problems when in fact we just are aware of more of the problems that we already had Paradox of Paranoia • Fear that as our society evolves, we rely too much on our institutions • Especially prominent because of increased rate of technological advances • Apocalypse based on institutional failure in media: I, Robot; The Matrix; Surrogates • Radio talk shows The Paradox of Proportion • Solving problems will make previously small problems appear large • Sociologists prioritize • Example: New types of diseases due to longer life span • Example: video Discussion Questions • Do you think global warming should be near the top of our list of problems in society? Would this be true 100 years ago, for example? • Are there any other social issues today that you believe get too much attention? • In what ways do you think today is the “best of times and the worst of times”? • Are we more pessimistic than our country’s relatively recent social progress warrants?