1. THE SOCIOLOGICAL PERSEPCTIVE: PART II
LECTURE 3
07/06/2015

2. Agenda The Origins of Sociology Divisions within Sociology
Classical Sociological Theorists and their Theories
Class Activity: Comparing and Contrasting Theoretical Explanations for a Social Problem

3. When was sociology ‘born?’
Sociology is a relatively ‘young’ discipline (19th Century Invention) But….
Questions about society have existed since antiquity
Proto-sociological perspectives used to understand Ancient Greek Society
Plato’s The Republic
Non-Western cultures
Ibn Khaldun ( ) and ‘social cohesion’

4. So when was sociology born?
Sociology as philosophy
Antiquity
Sociology as science
19th Century

5. Auguste Comte and Positivism
Auguste Comte ( ) was the first draft a method for studying society
“Social Physics” was the name Comte gave this study (we now know it as sociology)
Emphasized positivism (i.e. the perspective that sense perceptions are the only way to really gain knowledge in any valid way)
Argued for the use of the scientific method when explaining society
Went so far as to claim that we can understand society by
Unlocking ‘social equations’

6. Martineau makes sociology accessible to English Speakers
Harriet Martineau ( )
Translated Comte’s work into English
Wrote the first sociological methods book How to Observe Morals and Manners
Critiqued the institution of marriage and set groundwork for future English feminist social scientists

7. Spencer makes sociology appealing to the British and Americans
Herbert Spencer ( )
Society as evolving ‘organism’
“Survival of the fittest”
The Study of Sociology and The Principles of Sociology
Set sociology as a serious discipline in the English-speaking world

8. The Big 3/4 Emile Durkheim (1858-1917) Karl Marx (1818-1883)
Structural Functionalism
Karl Marx ( )
Conflict Theory
Max Weber ( )
Verstehen
“The Iron Cage”
Georg Simmel ( )’
Social interactions

9. Micro and Macro Perspectives
Distinguish between MICROsociology and MACROsociology
A microsociologist cares about….?
Small-scale questions
Social interactions
A macrosociologist cares about….?
Large questions
Society-wide social dynamics

10. Key Theories: Structural Functionalism
The theory that various social institutions and processes in society exist to serve some important (or necessary) function to keep society running
The goal of society is to maintain equilibrium
Everything has a manifest function and latent function
Manifest= obvious, intended function
Latent= less-obvious, often unintended function

11. Manifest and Latent functions of…

12. Pros and Cons to Structural Functionalism
Grand theory
Includes all social institutions
Focus on societal stability
Cons
Does not focus on individuals (ignores them)
Social ills that exist in society serve a purpose and our necessary
The only time something is ‘bad’ is when it creates dysfunction in society

13. Conflict Theory
The theory that conflict between competing interests is the basic, animating force of social change and society in general
Focus on class divisions and power differentials
Inequality is unfair and should be eradicated
Feminist theory as a type of conflict theory

14. Pros and Cons of Conflict Theory
Allows for praxis or practical action that is taken on the basis of intellectual or theoretical understanding
Advocates for justice and equality for all
Cons
Ignores the aspects of society that work well
May overstate the reason for inequality
Conflates equity with inequality

15. Symbolic Interactionism
A micro-level theory in which shared meanings, orientations, and assumptions form the basic motivations behind people’s action
America’s theoretical contribution
Basic tenets
We act toward things on the basis of their meanings
Meanings are created through interactions
Meanings can change through interactions

16. Pros and Cons of Symbolic Interactionism
Focus on individuals as actors
Ever-changing
Cons
Ignores structures
Unscientific
Limited when explaining society as a whole

17. Postmodernism
A condition characterized by a questioning of the notion of progress and history, the replacement of narrative with pastiche, and multiple, perhaps even conflicting identities resulting from disjointed affiliations
What????
Essentially, Social reality is constantly in flux. Always changing.

18. Pros and Cons of Postmodernism
Provides an alternative point of view
Largely focused on individual interpretation
Cons
Rejects the idea of facts and reality
Prevents obtaining the goal of science: generalizability

19. For next time… Skim all of Chapter 2 (43-69)
Pay particular attention to the distinction between Quantitative Methods and Qualitative Methods, Inductive vs. Deductive approaches, distinction between correlation and causation, and the types of data collection
For our class activity, come ready to discuss a research question regarding a social issue/phenomenon and how you would go about answering that question in a scientific way
For example, “Are female professors viewed differently than male professors? If so, why?”
Quote of the day:
“If someone shows you who they are, believe them.”
Maya Angelou