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Sociological theory Where did it come from? Theories and theorists Current theoretical approaches Sociology as science.

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Presentation on theme: "Sociological theory Where did it come from? Theories and theorists Current theoretical approaches Sociology as science."— Presentation transcript:

1 Sociological theory Where did it come from? Theories and theorists Current theoretical approaches Sociology as science

2 Where did it come from? 18 th & 19 th century roots of modern sociology in the West New system of production: industrial revolution, capitalism, colonialism New ideas: humanism and science New political forms: democracies (e.g., French revolution)

3 Theories Not just interested in how things happen, but why Theory: an abstract explanation of a set of observed events or situations

4 Theories and Theorists Auguste Comte –Reacted to French revolution –Coined term “sociologie” –positivist

5 Theories and Theorists Emile Durkheim –Comtian tradition (positivism, science) –“Treat social facts as things.” –Norms, e.g., are social facts They exist outside the individual They have an effect on behavior Statistics can show their existence –Social “glue”; cohesion, “solidarity” –Biological model: modern society = “organic solidarity”

6 Theories and Theorists Karl Marx –Philosophy student, radical –Historical materialism –Society understood as a mode of production –Modern society is capitalism –“Class struggle is the motor of history.” –Revolution changes mode of production: capitalism  socialism

7 Theories and Theorists Max Weber –Interpretive sociology: focus on meaning, culture, ideas –Comparative studies: religion, bureaucracy, state –Rationalization as main trend in modern society

8 Theories and Theorists (neglected) Harriet Martineau –Translated Comte to English –Studied 1830s America –Brought women into sociology, along with other neglected aspects

9 Theories and Theorists (neglected) W.E.B. Du Bois –African American perspective: “double conscoiusness” –History affects the self (Cf. sociological imagination) –“The problem of the twentieth century is the problem of the color line.”

10 Current theoretical approaches Symbolic interactionism –From George Herbert Mead –Blumer: 3 premises Humans act toward things based on meanings Meanings derived from interaction with others (“meanings as social products”) The person uses an interpretive process to make sense of the meanings –Social construction of reality

11 Current theoretical approaches Functionalism –From Comte and Durkheim –Function=contribution to survival of society as a whole –American version from Talcott Parsons –Merton adds manifest and latent functions and dysfunctions –Recent decline due to overemphasis on order

12 Current theoretical approaches Social conflict –From Marx to Marxisms: class, power, ideology –Feminisms –Race, class, and gender theories (a.k.a “identity theories”)

13 others rational choice theory: self-interest main variable in behavior postmodernism –going nowhere (collapse of modern idea of progress) –no grand narratives –new media images—chaotic, diverse

14 Sociology as science Science: the use of systematic methods of investigation, theoretical thinking, and the logical assessment of arguments, to develop a body of knowledge about a particular subject matter.

15 Sociology as science: theoretical thinking Concept: a relatively simple idea for a concrete (empirical), complex thing; e.g., Marx’s use of commodity Theory: a systematic explanation or interpretation of empirical observations; e.g., Marx’s theory of Capital Theoretical approach: a “grand theory;” set of fundamental assumptions that guide theory and research, like the ones Mills was talking about

16 Sociology as science: logical assessment of arguments As participants in society, sociologists are self-aware subjects - we have an intimate interest in the object of our study. Objectivity does not require detachment, but rather acknowledging and controlling the bias created by our interests. Critical assessment of research and theory by the community of scholars safeguards against the potentially negative effects of interest and bias.


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