Origins of Sociology

Transcription

1 Origins of Sociology

2 Precursors Social Upheaval Industrial Revolution masses flock to cities American and French Revolutions spark new ideas/? s Imperialism empires view radically different cultures Could these be examined using the scientific method?

3 Auguste Comte: ( ) 1857) Coined the term sociology Positivism apply the scientific method in to the social world... BUT... drew conclusions from informal observations ( armchair( sociologists ) French Revolution

4 Karl Marx: ( ) Class conflict and economics drive society/history Bourgeoisie (owners of the means of production, the haves ) ) vs. proletariat (workers, the have- nots ) Marxism is NOT communism Did not consider himself a sociologist Industrial Revolution

5

6

7 Herbert Spencer ( ) 1903) Survival of the fittest Social Darwinism... most capable and intelligent people survive, less able die out Do NOT help the poor More of an armchair sociologist Industrial Revolution

8 Emile Durkheim ( ) 1917) Got sociology recognized as an academic discipline Studied suicide rates... Found that social integration was the key factor in suicide Industrial Revolution

9 How Americans Commit Suicide Source: By the author. Based on Centers for Disease Control, Note: The source lists no separate totals for Latinos.

10 Max Weber ( ) 1920) Religion is the central force in social change Protestantism / protestant work ethic led to capitalism Sociology must be value free (objective) Verstehen to fully understand a person s actions we must examine how they view their own behavior Industrial Revolution

11 Talcott Parsons ( ) 1979) Sociology should exist as a pure science Findings should NOT necessarily be used for social reform

12 Charles C. Wright Mills ( ) 1962) Opposite of Parsons... Should use sociological studies to change societal problems

13 C. Wright Mills cont d Book The Power Elite 3 ruling institutions military, politics, and wealthy Form a community of similar interests View themselves as better than masses Hold all real power in the U.S. Interchangeability lines between the 3 groups are often blurred Ordinary citizens... powerless Industrial Revolution WWII

14 George Herbert Mead ( ) University of Chicago Developed symbolic interactionist perspective Studied roles play essential for a child s socialization Industrial Revolution

15 Robert Merton ( ) Coined the phrases: Self fulfilling prophecy - prediction that directly or indirectly causes itself to become true Role Model Added to the Functionalism Perspective Manifest function Latent functions Dysfunctions WWII, Turbulent 1960 s

16 Harriet Martineau ( ) Published Society in America Reported on U.S. customs (family, race, gender, and religion) Translated Comte s s work into English Works largely ignored Feminist Women s s rights

17 Jane Addams ( ) 1935) Co-founder of Hull House in Chicago Worked for child labor laws More of a social reformer than a sociologist Industrial Revolution

18 W.E.B Dubois ( ) 1963) Analyzed racism Founded the NAACP Left the U.S. and moved to Ghana Reconstruction Jim Crow South Civil Rights Movement