Significant Sociologists

Auguste Comte ( ) French Philosopher Considered the founder of sociology Coined the term ‘sociology’ Philosophy of Positivism- a belief that the world can best be understood through scientific inquiry

Harriet Martineau ( ) British Sociologist Translated and condensed Comte’s work Studied/researched effects of Industrial Revolution and capitalism in USA and UK on women, children and others marginalized in society Advocated for racial and gender equality

Herbert Spencer British Social Theorist ( ) Evolutionary perspective on social order and change Society has independent parts that work to ensure the stability of the whole ‘Social Darwinism’ Equated natural selection with progress Used to justify the “superiority” of the white race after the US Civil War

Emile Durkheim French sociologist ( ) –Viewed people as the product of their social environment –Society holds together because its members identify with their society as a whole and want it to survive. –Contributed the idea that societies are built on ‘social facts’ (patterned ways of acting, thinking, and feeling that exist outside any one individual)

Saw social change as a strain on society leading to the breakdown in traditional organization, values, and authority Lead to an increase in ‘anomie’- a condition in which social control becomes ineffective as a result of the shared loss of values and a sense of purpose in society Founder of funtionalist theoretical tradition Famous study on suicide

Karl Marx Karl Marx ( ) Germany –Industrial Revolution – why did a few have so much wealth while most had so little? –Uneven distribution of wealth was a norm in society: capitalists vs. working class –Class conflict – struggle between rich and poor- necessary to bring about change –Society’s problems would not be alleviated until power was redistributed among the people.

Max Weber Max Weber ( ) Germany –Many facets of power in society, not just economic as Marx had emphasized –Government bureaucracies could relieve many social problems –Society could be reformed and improved –Sociological research should be ‘values free’ –Very influential early sociologist –Sociological immagination

George Herbert Mead ( ) USA Sociologist and social psychologist One of the best known members of the Chicago School Founder of the symbolic interaction perspective