2. Chapter Two The Story of Sociology I: Enter Sociology

3. Objectives To locate the formation of sociology in relation to the development of modernity.To locate the formation of sociology in relation to the development of modernity. To outline the features of social evolutionism in early sociological theory.To outline the features of social evolutionism in early sociological theory. To discuss the key features of the classical sociological theories of Marx, Durkheim and Weber.To discuss the key features of the classical sociological theories of Marx, Durkheim and Weber.

4. Defining Modernity Emerged in Europe in the late eighteenth centuryEmerged in Europe in the late eighteenth century Key features:Key features: –Secular not religious –Capitalist not feudal –Industrial, urban –Based on the nation-state, democratic –Individualistic, mobile

5. Sociology and Modernity Modernity emerges as a result of significant change in EuropeModernity emerges as a result of significant change in Europe –The industrial revolution (1780-1840) Socio-economic revolutionSocio-economic revolution –The French revolution (1789-1804) Political revolutionPolitical revolution –The Enlightenment (1730s-1800) Cultural revolutionCultural revolution Sociology developed within this contextSociology developed within this context

6. The Enlightenment Both a set of ideas and a social movementBoth a set of ideas and a social movement Key ideas:Key ideas: –Rationalism and empiricism –Universalism and relativism –A focus on Western ideals –Claimed to speak for all humanity

7. Social evolutionism Ferguson and Millar’s four stages of evolutionary developmentFerguson and Millar’s four stages of evolutionary development –Hunter-gatherer –Pastoral –Agricultural –Industrial Linked to Comte and Spencer’s ‘progressivist’ outlookLinked to Comte and Spencer’s ‘progressivist’ outlook

8. Comte and Spencer –Auguste Comte (1798-1857) Believed to have coined the term ‘sociology’Believed to have coined the term ‘sociology’ Focussed on sociology as a scienceFocussed on sociology as a science Ideas based on enlightenment thinkingIdeas based on enlightenment thinking –Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) Also focussed on sociology as a scienceAlso focussed on sociology as a science Focussed on stages of developmentFocussed on stages of development –Critiqued for being: Too scientific and EurocentricToo scientific and Eurocentric Excessively deterministic and abstractExcessively deterministic and abstract

9. Karl Marx (1818-1883) Historical materialist and conflict theoristHistorical materialist and conflict theorist Key ideas:Key ideas: –Modes of production Slave, feudal, capitalistSlave, feudal, capitalist –Class consciousness Working class self-awarenessWorking class self-awareness –Alienation Workers lose control over their labour and the products of that labourWorkers lose control over their labour and the products of that labour

10. Emile Durkheim (1858-1917) Idealist and functionalistIdealist and functionalist Key ideas:Key ideas: –The division of labour Production process divided into specialised tasksProduction process divided into specialised tasks –Social solidarity Social integration into societySocial integration into society Shift from mechanical to organicShift from mechanical to organic –Collective consciousness Based on shared normsBased on shared norms

11. Max Weber (1864-1920) Took a multi-factorial approachTook a multi-factorial approach Key ideas:Key ideas: –Bureaucratic rationality Focus on efficiency, order and administrationFocus on efficiency, order and administration –Social status Hierarchy of positionsHierarchy of positions Class + Status + PartyClass + Status + Party –Social closure Social exclusion within a groupSocial exclusion within a group

12. Summary Early sociological theory develops from revolutionary change and the EnlightenmentEarly sociological theory develops from revolutionary change and the Enlightenment –Social evolutionism Comte and SpencerComte and Spencer Marx, Durkheim and Weber developed Grand TheoriesMarx, Durkheim and Weber developed Grand Theories –Focus on social structure and social change