SociologySociology

Then and NowThen and Now

The Sociological PerspectiveThe Sociological Perspective

Allows us to look at social life in a Allows us to look at social life in a scientific way.scientific way.

Moves us away from “Common Sense.”Moves us away from “Common Sense.” Recognizes that we are all social beings.Recognizes that we are all social beings. There are many different perceptions of There are many different perceptions of

social reality.social reality. Helps us understand our social desires.Helps us understand our social desires. Realizes the larger worlds connection to Realizes the larger worlds connection to

our personal lives.our personal lives.

Origins of SociologyOrigins of Sociology

Rapid social and political changes in Europe.Rapid social and political changes in Europe.– Specifically…The Industrial RevolutionSpecifically…The Industrial Revolution

Rural farming surrendered to large-scale production Rural farming surrendered to large-scale production economy.economy.

Factories took over…people stopped making their own Factories took over…people stopped making their own products.products.

People forced to move into cities for work.People forced to move into cities for work.

Urbanization led to social issuesUrbanization led to social issues More people than available jobs.More people than available jobs.

– CrimeCrime– PovertyPoverty– Dependence IssuesDependence Issues– PollutionPollution

Personal relationships of rural Personal relationships of rural communities replaced by impersonal communities replaced by impersonal citiescities

Impossible to ignore impact of Impossible to ignore impact of governments, cities and economy of governments, cities and economy of individualsindividuals

¡¡Viva la Revolución!Viva la Revolución!America and France revolt as a result of the America and France revolt as a result of the

differences in society.differences in society.

Origins of Sociology…Origins of Sociology…ContinuedContinued

Auguste Comte (1798-1857)Auguste Comte (1798-1857) French philosopher…Never completed French philosopher…Never completed

collegecollege 11stst to use term to use term SociologySociology Needed science & philosophy to help Needed science & philosophy to help

explain the need for chaos and revolution.explain the need for chaos and revolution. Comte's aim was to create a naturalistic Comte's aim was to create a naturalistic

science of society, which would both science of society, which would both explain the past development of mankind explain the past development of mankind and predict its future course. and predict its future course.

The society of man, Comte taught, must be The society of man, Comte taught, must be studied in the same scientific manner as studied in the same scientific manner as the world of nature. It is subject to basic the world of nature. It is subject to basic laws just as is the rest of the cosmos, even laws just as is the rest of the cosmos, even though it presents added complexities.though it presents added complexities.

Karl Marx (1818-1883)Karl Marx (1818-1883)

For him, struggle rather than peaceful growth For him, struggle rather than peaceful growth was the engine of progress; strife was the was the engine of progress; strife was the father of all things, and social conflict the core father of all things, and social conflict the core of historical process. of historical process.

He certainly struggled…kicked out of several cities…died He certainly struggled…kicked out of several cities…died penniless in London.penniless in London.

Marx did not believe that all people worked Marx did not believe that all people worked the same way, or that how one works is the same way, or that how one works is entirely personal and individual. Instead, he entirely personal and individual. Instead, he argued that work is a social activity and that argued that work is a social activity and that the conditions and forms under and through the conditions and forms under and through which people work are socially determined which people work are socially determined and change over time.and change over time.

Marxian thought rests on the Marxian thought rests on the fundamental assumption that it is fundamental assumption that it is human nature to transform nature.human nature to transform nature.– He calls this process of transformation He calls this process of transformation

"labor" and the capacity to transform "labor" and the capacity to transform nature "labor power." nature "labor power."

Basically, Marx believed that social Basically, Marx believed that social structure is economically driven and structure is economically driven and that influences the individual.that influences the individual.

Karl Marx…ContinuedKarl Marx…Continued

Herbert Spencer (1820-1903)Herbert Spencer (1820-1903)

English contemporary to ComteEnglish contemporary to Comte He developed a theory of two types He developed a theory of two types

of society, the militant and the of society, the militant and the industrial, which corresponded to this industrial, which corresponded to this evolutionary progression. evolutionary progression.

Militant society, structured around Militant society, structured around relationships of hierarchy and obedience, relationships of hierarchy and obedience, was simple and undifferentiated.was simple and undifferentiated.

Industrial society, based on voluntary, Industrial society, based on voluntary, contractually assumed social obligations, contractually assumed social obligations, was complex and differentiated. was complex and differentiated.

Herbert Spencer…ContinuedHerbert Spencer…Continued

Believer in Social DarwinismBeliever in Social Darwinism– Societies are living organisms that Societies are living organisms that

evolve over time and eventually reach evolve over time and eventually reach perfection.perfection.

– Survival of the FittestSurvival of the Fittest

Emile Durkheim (1858-1917)Emile Durkheim (1858-1917)

Applied the scientific method to SociologyApplied the scientific method to Sociology Societies are held together by shared Societies are held together by shared

values and beliefs.values and beliefs. Sociologists should study only what is Sociologists should study only what is

directly observable.directly observable. Social observations cannot be staged.Social observations cannot be staged.

Thoughts and feelings of the individual Thoughts and feelings of the individual should not be part of the observation should not be part of the observation process.process.

Max Weber (1864-1920)Max Weber (1864-1920)

Received Doctorate from University of Received Doctorate from University of BerlinBerlin

Interested in groups within the whole.Interested in groups within the whole. Go beyond studying what is directly observed.Go beyond studying what is directly observed. Uncover thoughts and feelings of the individual within Uncover thoughts and feelings of the individual within

the group.the group.

Created to concept of Created to concept of VerstehenVerstehen Sociologists must try to see/view the situation Sociologists must try to see/view the situation

through another person’s eyes.through another person’s eyes.