Origins of Sociology
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?
Auguste Comte: (1798-1857) 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
Karl Marx: (1818 1883) 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
Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) 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
Emile Durkheim (1858-1917) 1917) Got sociology recognized as an academic discipline Studied suicide rates... Found that social integration was the key factor in suicide Industrial Revolution
How Americans Commit Suicide Source: By the author. Based on Centers for Disease Control, 2002. Note: The source lists no separate totals for Latinos.
Max Weber (1864-1920) 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
Talcott Parsons (1902-1979) 1979) Sociology should exist as a pure science Findings should NOT necessarily be used for social reform
Charles C. Wright Mills (1916-1962) 1962) Opposite of Parsons... Should use sociological studies to change societal problems
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
George Herbert Mead (1863-1931) University of Chicago Developed symbolic interactionist perspective Studied roles play essential for a child s socialization Industrial Revolution
Robert Merton (1910 2003) 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
Harriet Martineau (1802 1876) 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
Jane Addams (1860-1935) 1935) Co-founder of Hull House in Chicago Worked for child labor laws More of a social reformer than a sociologist Industrial Revolution
W.E.B Dubois (1868-1963) 1963) Analyzed racism Founded the NAACP Left the U.S. and moved to Ghana Reconstruction Jim Crow South Civil Rights Movement