Soci250 Sociological Theory Module 1 Overview of Classical Sociological Theory François Nielsen University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Spring 2007
Outline Main Themes Social & historical forces Intellectual forces Classical Sociological Theory in Europe
Main Themes Early (19th century) sociological theory developed largely in Europe Out of powerful social-historical and intellectual forces Largely independent development in France, Germany, England, and Italy
Social & historical forces Industrial Revolution, capitalism & large-scale markets IR begins in England ca 1750 quickly diffuses to continent use of machines powered by inanimate forms of energy decline of rural population & rise of urban population distinction community vs. association or civil society
Social & historical forces French Revolution & aftermath French Revolution 1789 followed by French 1st Empire (Napoleon) radical break with the past consciousness of unprecedented change (-> Hegel) issue of social order (-> Comte, Durkheim, Parsons)
Social & historical forces Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel 1770 1831
Social & historical forces Rise of modern states, nationalism & civil society French Revolution -> idea of State & Society as distinct civil society as society that [is] a free product of relations among private persons (Calhoun et al) society intermediate between State and individuals -> Tocqueville discovers autonomy of State idea of Nation
Social & historical forces Liberty Leading the People, Eugène Delacroix 1833
Social & historical forces European expansion after 1500 another wave of colonialism / imperialism ca 1860 to WWI discovery of other cultures / races -> Montesquieu & the spirit behind laws -> idea of social evolution (Herbert Spencer)
Intellectual forces Protestant Reformation & rise of individualism Protestant Reformation -> people can read Bible for themselves individual relationship with God notion of free examination vs. religious dogma transferred to secular context as freedom of enquiry -> social order chosen -> social contract -> Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Intellectual forces Rise of socialism Socialism refers to a broad array of doctrines or political movements that envisage a socio-economic system in which property and the distribution of wealth are subject to social control. (Wikipedia after Encyclopedia Britannica) predates Marx (early 19th century British & French thinkers Robert Owen, Charles Fourier, Pierre-Joseph Proudhon, Louis Blanc, Saint-Simon) advocate egalitarian distribution of wealth, small communities, private property to be abolished Karl Marx later becomes principal theoretician of socialism
Intellectual forces Science & the Enlightenment period of intellectual development & change in philosophical outlook Rousseau, Voltaire, Diderot, Montesquieu, Dalambert emphasis on reason (rational discourse) empirical data big project Encyclopédie also Scottish Enlightenment(ca 1730 1800) & Jewish Enlightenment (Haskalah, late 1700s)
Intellectual forces Conservative reaction to Enlightenment thesis of Irving Zeitlin (controversial) French Catholic reaction against Enlightenment French Revolution ideas modernism ideas influence French sociological theory: society greater than individuals society as system of interdependent parts need for social hierarchy
Intellectual forces Development of political economy Adam Smith (1776) mechanisms of supply & demand as Invisible Hand model of successful empirical-deductive social science model of system of parts
Intellectual forces Feminism early notions of equality of men & women in French Revolution (Liberty, Equality, Fraternity) Austrian family Law (18th century) Napoleon Code (early 19th century) little influence on early sociological theory
Classical Sociological Theory in Europe Overview
Classical Sociological Theory in Europe France Claude Henri Saint-Simon (1760 1825) Auguste Comte (1798 1857) Emile Durkheim (1858 1917)
Classical Sociological Theory in Europe Germany Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770 1831) Ludwig Feuerbach (1804 1872) Karl Marx (1818 1883) Max Weber (1864 1920) Georg Simmel (1858 1918)
Classical Sociological Theory in Europe Great Britain Adam Smith (1723 1790) Herbert Spencer (1820 1903)
Classical Sociological Theory in Europe Italy Vilfredo Pareto (1848 1923) generally underrated standard treatments misleading work has great importance for economics sociology social science methodology