The Early Functionalists

Functionalism The analysis of society as a system composed of parts that affect each other and the system as a whole Functions = purposes or consequences

Functionalism System – analogy of a living organism If the society is orderly the organism will be healthy. Universal Consensus (shared values) keeps the society orderly

Herbert Spencer ( ) 19 th -Century Liberal – believed in the freedom of business from government control Laissez-faire – “unseen hand” (Adam Smith)

Herbert Spencer ( ) The good of society would best be served if each man looked out for himself. No program for social change No program for maintaining social order

Herbert Spencer ( ) Two major contributions to sociology : Organic analogy Evolutionary view of history

Herbert Spencer ( ) Two major contributions to sociology : Organic analogy −Society is a system −Functions like a living body −Solidarity derives from the interdependence of the parts Evolutionary view of history −Darwin’s theory of natural selection applied to society

Herbert Spencer ( ) Social Darwinism (“survival of the fittest”)– People are poor because they cannot adapt to the social environment Rich men rise to the top because of natural talents (genetic superiority)

Herbert Spencer ( ) Opposed public education – because poor people would not make good use of it Opposed women’s suffrage – because women might not be sufficiently evolved to make political judgments

Herbert Spencer ( ) Emphasized a scientific approach – Social problems should be carefully studied, rather than letting “do-gooders” rush in to “fix” them. Spencer later reversed some of his most conservative ideas.

Vilfredo Pareto ( ) Emphasized a scientific, mathematical approach Viewed society as a system in equilibrium – a change in one part will lead to changes in other parts – final result: stability

Vilfredo Pareto ( ) What appears to be social change is really a “circulation of elites”: Lions – honor, duty, tradition, property, nationalism, and maintaining power by force Foxes – innovation, imagination, democratic sentiments, and maintaining power by manipulation

Emile Durkheim ( ) Established sociology as an academic field Showed its unique contribution as distinct from psychology Influence of Comte’s Positivism −emphasis on scientific method −concern about social order

Emile Durkheim ( ) Collective Conscience –shared values (similar to universal consensus) – produces social solidarity – derived from a society’s division of labor Disagreed with Spencer: Durkheim did not see solidarity as resulting spontaneously from individual actions, but as collectively maintained.

Emile Durkheim ( ) Two kinds of solidarity: Mechanical Organic

Emile Durkheim ( ) Two kinds of solidarity: Mechanical – characteristic of small- scale societies with a simple division of labor (men hunt, women forage) same taskssimilar positions similar viewssocial stability

Emile Durkheim ( ) Two kinds of solidarity: Organic –characteristic of large- scale modern societies with complex division of labor – derives from interdependence of roles (like a living organism)

Emile Durkheim ( ) Two kinds of solidarity: Organic – more difficult to maintain than mechanical solidarity – can result in anomie Anomie – the absence of norms – results from breakdown in social solidarity

Emile Durkheim ( ) Religion – expression of the collective conscience – traditional source of shared values – less influential in modern societies Future source of solidarity: scientific education

Emile Durkheim ( ) Research Method The Whole = more than the sum of its parts (Society is more than a collection of individuals.) Sociology is the study of social facts.

Emile Durkheim ( ) Social facts are THINGS. Criteria: External (to the individual mind) – objective Coercive (at least potentially)

Emile Durkheim ( ) Study of social facts requires: objectivity experiment comparison Comparative method: studying the same elements in different societies

Emile Durkheim ( ) Evolutionary view: societies develop from simple to complex (progressive differentiation)

Emile Durkheim ( ) Evolutionary view: societies develop from simple to complex (progressive differentiation) Unilinear process (straight line – going in one general direction)

Emile Durkheim ( ) Evolutionary view: societies develop from simple to complex (progressive differentiation)

Emile Durkheim ( ) Evolutionary view: societies develop from simple to complex (progressive differentiation)

Emile Durkheim ( ) Evolutionary view: societies develop from simple to complex (progressive differentiation)

Emile Durkheim ( ) Evolutionary view: societies develop from simple to complex (progressive differentiation)

Emile Durkheim ( ) Study of Suicide Showed difference between sociology and psychology Focused on rates of suicide between societies and sectors of societies, rather than on individual reasons

Emile Durkheim ( ) Study of Suicide Typology showed relationship of suicide to the individual’s connection to society: Altruistic suicide (for the group) Egoistic suicide (isolation) Anomic suicide (social/moral breakdown) Fatalistic suicide ( person blocked by society )

Emile Durkheim ( ) Summary: Functionalist −society as a system −evolutionary view −concerned about social order and anomie Wholistic: Whole = more than sum of parts

Emile Durkheim ( ) Summary: Scientific approach Research – objective and comparative Method focused on the study of social facts (“things” – external and coercive)