Chapter 1 Sociology: An Introduction The Sociological Imagination Sociology, The Human Science From Social Thought to Social Science Major Sociological Perspectives

Sociological Imagination Ability to participate in social life and analyze the broader meanings of what is going on. Habit of seeing events in terms of how they affect individuals prevents people from improving their society.

Levels of Social Reality Micro level - behaviors of the individual and their immediate others Macro level - whole societies and the ways they are changing Middle-level - communities or organizations

Age of Enlightenment Bacon, Descartes, Pascal and Leibniz recognized the social importance of scientific discoveries. The rise of science transformed the social order.

Age of Revolution Old order was breaking down as secular knowledge replaced sacred traditions. Became evident that the scientific method could provide new answers.

Founders of Sociology Karl Marx - explained transformations taking place as societies became urbanized. Emile Durkheim - established the first scientific journal in sociology. Max Weber-compared cities to show how new forms of government and administration were evolving.

Women in Sociology Harriet Martineau - wrote sociological interpretations of the early phases of capitalism and modernity. Ida B. Wells-Barnett - wrote about the new forms of discrimination and became a civil rights spokesperson. Manjula Giri - example of a scholar-activist, a dual role that is increasingly common.

Major Sociological Perspectives Interactionism - views social order and change as resulting from the interactions between individuals and groups. Rational Choice - focuses on what people seem to be getting out of interactions and what they contribute to the relationship or larger group.

Major Sociological Perspectives Symbolic interactionism -focuses on how social life is “constructed” through mundane acts of social communication. Functionalism -asks how society carries out the functions it must perform. Conflict Theory - the divisions of people into classes produces conflict.