1. Sociology - Historical sketch - Sociological Perspective

2. The Development of Sociology
Sociology emerged as a separate discipline in the nineteenth century
This was a time of great social upheaval due largely to the French and Industrial Revolutions
Several early sociologists shaped the direction of the discipline

3. Auguste Comte (1798-1857) Responsible for coining the term “sociology”
Set out to develop the “science of man” that would be based on empirical observation
Focused on two aspects of society:
Social Statics—forces which produce order and stability
Social Dynamics—forces which contribute to social change

4. Harriet Martineau ( )
Authored one of the earliest analyses of culture and life in the United States entitled Theory and Practice of Society in America
Translated Comte’s Positive Philosophy into English
Harriet Martineau

5. Herbert Spencer ( )
Authored the first sociology text, Principles of Sociology
Most well known for proposing a doctrine called “Social Darwinism”
Suggested that people who could not compete were poorly adapted to the environment and inferior
This is an idea commonly called survival of the fittest

6. Emile Durkheim ( )
Durkheim moved sociology fully into the realm of an empirical science
Most well known empirical study is called Suicide, where he looks at the social causes of suicide
Generally regarded as the founder of functionalist theory
Emile Durkheim

7. Karl Marx (1818-1883) Marx is the father of conflict theory
Saw human history in a continual state of conflict between two major classes:
Bourgeoisie—owners of the means of production (capitalists)
Proletariat—the workers
Predicted that revolution would occur producing a socialist state, (end of communist society)

8. Max Weber ( )
Much of Weber’s work was a critique or clarification of Marx
His most famous work, The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism directly challenged Marx’s ideas on the role of religion in society
Weber was also interested in bureaucracies and the process of rationalization in society

9. The Development of Sociology in the United States
American sociology had its beginnings at the University of Chicago in the early 20th century
The early emphasis was on empirical study of communities and neighborhoods
Later, East Coast schools such as Columbia and Harvard Universities began sociology departments, producing scholars such as W.E.B. Dubois, Talcott Parsons, and Robert Merton

10. The Development of Sociology in INDIA
The study of Sociology in India started in at the university of Bombay
In 1930 sociology study as a separate discipline was started

11. THEORY/ PERSPECTIVES A theory is a set of interrelated
propositions or principles designed to answer a question or explain a particular phenomenon; it
provides us with a perspective. Sociological theories help us to explain and predict the social
world in which we live.

12. Sociology includes three major theoretical perspectives:
1 The Functionalist Perspective,
2. The
Conflict Perspective, And 3. The Symbolic Interactionist Perspective (sometimes called the
interactionist perspective, or simply the micro view).

13. Theoretical Perspectives: Functionalism Emile Durkheim (1858-1917)
Durkheim moved sociology fully into the realm of an empirical science
Most well known empirical study is called Suicide, where he looks at the social causes of suicide
Generally regarded as the founder of functionalist theory
Emile Durkheim

14. Theoretical Perspectives: Functionalism
Emile Durkhime
Functionalism sees society as a system of highly interrelated parts that work together harmoniously to promote solidarity
The image that functionalists use to understand society is a living organism
Each part of society works together for the benefit of the whole much like a living organism

15. Karl Marx (1818-1883) Marx is the father of conflict theory
Saw human history in a continual state of conflict between two major classes:
Bourgeoisie—owners of the means of production (capitalists)
Proletariat—the workers
Predicted that revolution would occur producing a socialist state, (end of communist society)

16. Theoretical Perspectives: Conflict Theory
Conflict theory is grounded in the work of Karl Marx (Marxism)
Society is understood to be made up of conflicting interest groups
This dynamic results in continuous social change, which is the normal state of affairs
Conflict theory focuses heavily on inequality and differential distribution of power and wealth
The theory is useful in explaining how the dominant groups use their power to exploit the less power groups in the society

17. Theoretical Perspectives: The Interactionist Perspective
Symbolic Interactionism developed by George Herbert Mead
Focuses on how individuals make sense of and interpret the world
This perspective views symbols as the basis of social life. Symbols are things to which we attach meanings.
The theory stresses the analysis of how our behaviors depend on how we define others and ourselves.

18. Comparing Theoretical Perspectives
Scope of Analysis
Point of View
Focus of Analysis
Structural-Functionalism
Macro Level
Various parts of society are interdependent
Social systems are highly stable
Social life governed by consensus & cooperation
Functional and dysfunctional aspects of society
Conflict Theory
Society accommodates between competing interest groups
Society unstable and prone to change
1. How social inequalities produce conflict
2. Who benefits from social arrangements
Interactionist
Micro-Level
Actions have symbolic meanings
Meanings can vary
How people make sense of their world