Sociological Theoriess
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Transcript of Sociological Theoriess
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Sociological theories
Functionalist perspectiveConflict perspectiveInteraction perspectivePost modern perspective
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Founders of the functionalist perspective :
August Comte (1798-1857)Herbert Spencer (1820-1903)Émile Durkheim (1858-1917)
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August Comte (1798-1857) "father of sociology"
The science about society– social physics
Comte invented the term sociology
EvolutionistPositivist
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Comtes positivism
Comte's views of the three stages of the history of sciences. In order as follows, the stages are:
1. Theological - nature has a will of it's own. This stage is broken down into three stages of its own, including animism, polytheism, and monotheism.
2. Metaphysical state - though substituting ideas for a personal will.
3. Positive - a search for absolute knowledge.
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Herbert Spencer (1820-1903)
EnglishmanEvolutionist –
“survival of the fittest”
OptimistLaissez-faire
liberalism
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Émile Durkheim (1858-1917)
Frenchman Evolutionist Division of labour Study of suicide
– “Anomy” Statistics applied in
sociology
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Functionalism
Society is a combination of different parts/institutions such as:– Family, religion, economy and educational system
These institutions secure the evolution and growth of society
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The characteristics of society
Well planned uniformity Stability and equilibrium between different
parts Consensus of the main values Every institution has a function which helps
society to remain stable What is, is good – “natural selection” of good
institutions/functions
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Functionalistic research questions?
Mapping, describing and analysing– The positive functions– The institutions– (The dysfunctions)
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Assignment
Mention all main parts/institutions which you believe are the brick stones of society. How do these parts work together in creating societies equilibrium?
What are the main weaknesses of the functionalist perspective in describing society?
Is it politically biased? If, then how?
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Conflict perspective
Founders? Karl Marx (1818-1883)
– German revolutionist philosopher, sociologist and economist
Friedrich Engels (1820-1895)– German socialist
philosopher
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Marxism
Historical materialism– “It is not the consciousness of men that determines their
existence, but on the contrary, it is their social existence which determines their consciousness...”
Dialectic Class struggle National economy Socialism Communism
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Conflict perspective in modern sociology
Not only focusing on class struggle as Marx did, but on the overall power structure in society, such as conflicts between different groups of interests– Producers and consumers, employers and
employed, Muslims and Christians, teachers and students, parents and kids, personality and culture
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Conflict causes social change
In every society there are conflicts; conflict is the driving force of social change
Conflict does not necessary mean violence, rather tension, competition or disagreement about objectives and values, conflict of interests
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Research questions?
Mapping of power-relations Someone is making benefit of the situation at
the expense of someone else How can we dissolve the conflict? Can there
be a win-win solution?
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Conflict vs. functionalist perspective
The conflict paradigm highlights parts of society where functionalists usually do not focus on
The weakness of the conflict paradigm is that they miss the consensus- and balance in society
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Assignment
The conflict paradigm presupposes that resources and power are limited, which in turn, creates tension and conflicts between different groups.
Investigate some relationships within the school from the viewpoint of conflict theories, for example the relationship between teachers and students, or between school-board and students, or between pastime and studies.
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Assignment
The functionalist paradigm presupposes that every part of society has a (positive) function.
Investigate some relationships within the school from the viewpoint of functionalist perspective, for example the relationship between teachers and students, or between school-board and students, or between pastime and studies.
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Interaction perspective
Max Weber (1860-1920) Verstehen
– Understanding the meaning of human action
– Thought to be characteristic of the social sciences opposed to the natural sciences
Identifies different kinds of authorities – Traditional– Charismatic– Rational
Ideal types– Institutionalised social action
Iron cage
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Interaction perspective/founders
George Herbert Mead (1880-1949)
– Symbolic interaction Human behaviour has a deeper
symbolic meaning Humans learn the meaning of
social behaviour, by socialisation
Erving Goffman (1922- )– Role theory
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Objectivity/impartiality
Is objectivity possible in (social) sciences? Scientists have consciousness formed by
their personal experience, they live in a certain culture, place and time, they have their personal interests
Is objectivity desirable in science?