1. Sociology and the Real World (Part II)
Chapter 1:
Sociology and the Real World
(Part II)

2. Overview Historical Background What is Theory?
Theoretical Perspectives
MACRO
Europe
MICRO
United States
New Approaches
Tensions Within Sociology

3. The Blind Men and the Elephant By John Godfrey Saxe (1816-1887)
It was six men of Indostan
To learning much inclined
Who went to see the Elephant
(Though all of them were blind),
That each by observation
Might satisfy his mind

4. The First approached the Elephant, And happening to fall Against his broad and sturdy side, At once began to bawl: “God bless me! but the Elephant Is very like a wall!” The Second, feeling of the tusk, Cried, “Ho! what have we here So very round and smooth and sharp? To me ’tis mighty clear This wonder of an Elephant Is very like a spear!”

5. The Third approached the animal, And happening to take The squirming trunk within his hands, Thus boldly up and spake: “I see,” quoth he, “the Elephant Is very like a snake!” The Fourth reached out an eager hand, And felt about the knee. “What most this wondrous beast is like Is mighty plain,” quoth he; “‘Tis clear enough the Elephant Is very like a tree!”

6. The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear, Said: “E’en the blindest man Can tell what this resembles most; Deny the fact who can This marvel of an Elephant Is very like a fan! The Sixth no sooner had begun About the beast to grope, Than, seizing on the swinging tail That fell within his scope, “I see,” quoth he, “the Elephant Is very like a rope!”

7. And so these men of Indostan Disputed loud and long, Each in his own opinion Exceeding stiff and strong, Though each was partly in the right, And all were in the wrong! So oft in theologic wars, The disputants, I ween, Rail on in utter ignorance Of what each other mean, And prate about an Elephant Not one of them has seen!

9. Historical Factors in the Development of Sociology

10. Historical Factors The emergence of social sciences
Borrowing from natural sciences
Applying scientific method to study social world

11. Historical Factors The Industrial Revolution Invention:
Steam engine
Europe (19th Century)
Spread to U.S.
Social Change
Radical, rapid transformation of society and everyday life
New, widespread social problems

13. Historical Factors The French and American Revolutions
Political change
Overthrow monarchies
New democracies
Social change
Rights
Freedoms

14. Historical Factors Increased travel Exposure to other societies
Compare and contrast
social systems
cultural practices

15. Historical Factors Innovations in communications
Rapid spread of information

16. Re-imagining the Industrial Revolution
In-Class Exercise
Re-imagining the Industrial Revolution

17. Theory (Approach, perspective, school of thought)
What is Theory?
Framework for understanding
Abstract proposition:
explains social world
makes predictions about future
Good theories are:
Broad, enduring
Subject to testing
prove, disprove or modify
Can adapt to social change

19. The Roots of Sociology Auguste Comte (1798-1857)
Applied scientific method
Positivism
Knowledge gained directly (through senses)
Coined the term “Sociology”

20. The Roots of Sociology Herbert Spencer (1820-1903)
Interest in evolution
Societies are like organisms
Evolve by adapting to changing environment
“Social Darwinism”
Coined the phrase:
“Survival of the Fittest”

21. Sociological Theory 3 “Grand” Theories Other Theories
MACRO (Europe 19th Century)
Functionalism
Conflict Theory
MICRO (U.S. 20th Century)
Interactionism
Other Theories
Sigmund Freud (Ch. 4)
Max Weber (Ch. 5)
Postmodernism (Ch. 13)

22. FUNCTIONALISM (Structural Functionalism)
Understanding rapid social change
Could society survive?
Society is like an organism
A system of interrelated parts = structure
Each part helps meet needs of members
Social institutions
Focus on stability, cohesion and order
Social bonds in all societies
Mechanical solidarity
Shared traditions and beliefs
Organic solidarity (in modern society)
Division of labor and interdependence

23. “The Elementary Forms of Religious Life”
Solidarity in secular society
Division of sacred and profane
Collective effervescence
Shared rituals
Collective conscience
Shared beliefs and values
Robert Merton
Manifest and latent functions
Intended and unintended consequences
Dysfunctions may arise
Not all are unhealthy
Can lead to social change

24. CONFLICT THEORY (Marxism)
Founded by Karl Marx
Marxism is NOT Communism
Looked at growth of Capitalism
Profit-driven private industry
Social inequality
Concern for the poor, working class masses
Marx’s vision:
A classless utopia
“From each according to his abilities,
To each according to his needs”

25. CONFLICT THEORY (Marxism)
The powerful protect their own interests
Domination, exploitation results in either:
“False consciousness” (acceptance of the dominant ideology)
Resentment, resistance and rebellion
Struggle leads to social change
“Revolutionary” class consciousness
Overthrow the status quo
Different groups compete over “scarce” resources
Tension between “haves” and “have-nots”
Class conflict
The Bourgeoisie
The ruling class (owners of the “means of production”)
The Proletariat
The working class

26. FUNCTIONALISM
Emile Durkheim 1858–1917

27. CONFLICT THEORY
Karl Marx 1818–1883

28. SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM
George Herbert Mead
Herbert Blumer

29. SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM (Interactionism)
American branch of sociology
Early 20th Century
University of Chicago
“Chicago School” used the city as a social laboratory

30. Interactionism Face-to-face interaction and everyday life
Focus on symbols
meaningful representations
signs, gestures, language
Looks at how people:
create and interpret social reality
act toward each other based on their interpretations

32. Illustration: “The Slap”
Tenets:
We act toward things based on their meaning
Meanings are not inherent; rather they are derived through interaction
Meanings can change or be modified
Illustration: “The Slap”

33. Tensions in Early Sociology
Eurocentrism, sexism and racism
Accomplishments (praxis)
Jane Addams
1860–1935
W.E.B. DuBois 1868–1963

34. New Theoretical Approaches
What is the future of sociology?
POSTMODERNISM
Derrida, Foucault, Baurdrillard

35. Postmodernism New perspective for era (21st century)
Post-atomic
Information Revolution (Digital Age)
Characteristics of eras
Modernism
Reason, science, rationality, linear, universal
Postmodernism
Relative, fragmented, fluid, multidimensional, temporary
The “simulacra” (simulation or fake)
Virtual reality as good as (or better than) the real
Las Vegas theme hotels
Video: Holographic pop star (Japan)