The Sociological Perspective Chapter 1A - Epistemology

Transcription

1 The Sociological Perspective Chapter 1A - Epistemology History of Sociology Philosophers/religious authorities of ancient and medieval societies made observations of human behavior The church had to concede certain scientific truths about the physical world. Humans became skeptical of the natural order of things and ultimately social order of things. European theorists in 19 th century made pioneering contributions to development of the science of human behavior. Social change of industrial revolution ushered in group of people who sought to understand the consequences for humans. A Little Theology The estate or status into which the individual was born was the estate into which that person ought to have been born. The rich man in his castle, the poor man at his gate, God made them, high and lowly, and ordered their estate. A Little Metaphysics Each of us puts his person and all his power in common under the supreme direction of the general will; and in a body we receive each member as an indivisible part of the whole. Jean-Jacques Rousseau The Social Contract Henri De Saint-Simone ( ) Aristocrat Believed the ruling class should be given to the scientists. Industrialism is the future and progress is not a matter of science alone but affects all the conditions of life the new society [will] provide the basis for solving all the old problems. Auguste Comte ( ) Hired by Saint-Simone They split over who should receive credit for the Law of Three Stages. Considered one of the most influential philosophers of the 1800s. Claimed sociologists would be the experts on the earthly social world as astronomers are the experts on the heavens. Sociologists would reform society, making it a better place to live. Sociology B1 Ch. 1A The Sociological Perspective - D. Riess 1

2 Sociology to take the place of religion. Gave us the term SOCIOLOGY in Positivism A scientific approach to knowledge based on facts. Harriet Martineau ( ) Known primarily for translating Comte into English. Wrote 35 books and numerous essays in sociology, religion, and domestics. Was said to have a masculine intellect. Herbert Spencer ( ) Studied evolutionary change in society. Sociologists should not guide social reform. Society evolving from barbarian to civilized forms. Survival of the fittest. Social Darwinism. Karl Marx ( ) Economist. Not a sociologist. Says Karl Engine of human history is class conflict. Everything is secondary to economic realities. Religion is the opium of the masses (It numbs the pain). The Communist Manifesto. Bourgeoisie and Proletariat. Exploiters and Exploited. Pre-Contractual Solidarity Collective Consciousness Mechanical Solidarity Organic Solidarity Suicide Major Contributions to: Deviance Religion Work Emile Durkheim ( ) Sociology B1 Ch. 1A The Sociological Perspective - D. Riess 2

3 Ferdinand Tönnies ( ) Interested in industrialization and its impact on society. Tönnies examined changing relationships. Two types of relationships: Gemeinschaft Gesellschaft Max Weber ( ) More than economics. SES Ideal-Type Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism Examined Behavior Rational Behavior Non-Rational Behavior Pre-Modern / Modern Typology What They Examined Pre-Modern Society Modern Society Durkheim Tönnies Weber Sociological Imagination Preview Changes in society result in changes in societal roles. Recognize the relationship between our private troubles and public issues. Industrial Revolution (Public Issue) Private Troubles? Anomie - Rolelessness Sociology B1 Ch. 1A The Sociological Perspective - D. Riess 3

4 Women in Sociology In the 1800s education was reserved primarily for men. Women were expected to devote themselves to: church, cooking, children, and clothes. Men recorded the history of sociology. In an effort to establish sociology as a science early sociologist distanced themselves from social reform. Advocacy may jeopardize the new sciences reputation. Jeopardize their positions at the university. Jane Adams ( ) First sociologist to win the Noble Prize 1889 opened the Hull House for Chicago s poor. Studied the causes and consequences of poverty. One of the founders of the NAACP. Co-founded ACLU. Eight hour work day. CHild labor. Mother of Social Work. W.E.B. DuBois ( ) First African-American to earn a PhD from Harvard. Saw society as conflict-ridden. More than economic inequality there was racial inequality. Helped to found the NAACP Double Consciousness Later in life promoted segregation. Moved to Ghana at age 93. Parsons and Mills Talcot Parsons ( ) Faculty in the first department of sociology at Harvard. Promoted the theoretical side of sociology. Introduced the writings and theories of Weber to the U.S. Sociology B1 Ch. 1A The Sociological Perspective - D. Riess 4

5 Merton and Cooley Robert Merton ( ) Combined theory and research. Combined macro and micro levels of analysis. Developed explanation of deviant behavior. Manifest and Latent Functions. Charles Horton Cooley ( ) Used sociological perspective to examine face-to-face interaction. Primary and Secondary Groups Pierre Bourdieu ( ) Capital sustains individuals and families from one generation to the next. Economic Capital Social Capital Cultural Capital Material Capital Embodied Capital Sociology in America Basic vs. Applied Public Sociology. Knowledge Building vs. Social Reform First sociology course taught at Yale. First department of sociology - University of Chicago 1905 organized the American Sociological Society or: Sociology in America Later the name was changed to the American Sociological Association Sociological Imagination - Intro We are not ordinarily aware of the connection between the people we are becoming and the types of historymaking in which they might take part. The shaping of history now (1959) outpaces our ability to orient ourselves with cherished values. Anomie - Rolelessness Sociology B1 Ch. 1A The Sociological Perspective - D. Riess 5

6 Sociological Imagination Part 1 The first lesson of the sociological imagination is for individual biographies to locate themselves within their history. Mills writes, In many ways it is a terrible lesson; in many ways a magnificent one. Sociological Imagination Part 1 Those who have dedicated themselves to studying the social must ask themselves these three questions: What is the structure of society? Where in history is the society located? Social trajectory Who are the players or actors? Sociological Imagination Part 2 Private Trouble Within the character of the individual. Within the range of his/her immediate locale. Limited areas of social life of which the individual is aware. Troubles and their resolution reside within the individual. Sociological Imagination Part 2 Public Issues Matters that transcend the local. Many milieu into the institutions of society as a whole. Values cherished by the public is threatened. Sociological Imagination Part 2 An issue often involves a crisis in institutional arrangements involving what Marx referred to as : contradictions and antagonisms. Examples from Mills Unemployment War Marriage The City Theory Theory: Set of statements that seeks to explain problems, actions, or behavior. Sociology B1 Ch. 1A The Sociological Perspective - D. Riess 6

7 Durkheim s Suicide Suicide a private trouble. Durkheim, a skeptic if ever there was one, asked if there were public issues at work in relation to the private trouble of suicide. Durkheim measured statistically significant rates of suicide based on too much or too little integration or regulation. Durkheim s Suicide Integration Regulation Too Much Too Little The Sociological Eye Sociology is difficult not only for all the reasons we have already discussed but because we have been taught (socialized) to see the world in ways that are non-sociological. We have been taught to embrace the principle of individualism. Sociologists recognize that the social environment makes some choices easier and others harder for the individual. Choices An individualistic model is misleading because it encourages us to explain human behavior and experience from a perspective that s so narrow it misses most of what s going on (Johnson 1997). Without our sociological imagination we are tempted to attack all problems by treating individuals. With such a limited perspective, it s hard to see that some of our worst problems are the result of social forces. Socio-Economic Position Sometimes referred to as one s SES. How aware of your race are you? How aware of your gender are you? How aware of your sexuality are you? How Aware of your SES class are you? What factors contribute to you being more or less aware? Double Consciousness Sociology B1 Ch. 1A The Sociological Perspective - D. Riess 7

8 Paradigms Introduction There are four ways in which we know things: Empirically Aesthetically Morally Interpretively Paradigms Introduction Sociology, the science, seeks to discover / know things empirically. Sociology has a(n): Epistemology Methodology Sociologists study anything and everything. Theoretical Perspectives and Paradigms What does a paradigm do? What does a paradigm not do? Why have paradigms? Paradigms Introduction Sociological Paradigms Symbolic Interactionism People act depending on their perception. People are continuously learning from those around them how to perceive reality. Constant development, transmission, and interpretation of meanings. When people attach different meanings to things there is the opportunity for misunderstandings or conflict. Dramaturgy - Ervin Goffman. Functional Analysis Consensus about what values and norms are important. Society is a whole made up of many integrated and interdependent parts. Change in one part results in change in another part. Society seeks stability or equilibrium. Conflict or disequilibrium is dysfunctional or pathological. Sociology B1 Ch. 1A The Sociological Perspective - D. Riess 8

9 R.K. Merton and Function Manifest Function Recognized and intended consequences of any social pattern, behavior, or structure. Latent Function Unrecognized and/or unintended consequence of any social pattern, behavior, or structure. Social Dysfunction Social pattern that may disrupt the operation of society. Conflict Theory Within any society there are subgroups of people who ascribe to different and often competing/conflicting values and goals. Subgroups are in ruthless competition for scarce resources. Conflict is normal. Conflict Theory Feminist View Sees inequality in gender as central to all behavior and organization Aligned with conflict theory Proponents tend to focus on macro level Broadened social behavior by extending analysis beyond male point of view Paradigm Handout Sociology B1 Ch. 1A The Sociological Perspective - D. Riess 9