SYG 2000 Lecture 1 Chapter 1 Origins of Sociology

I. The Sociological Perspective (or imagination): how groups (society) influence people

   A. society: group of people who share a culture and a territory

   B. look at social location: e.g. how jobs, inc, educ, sex, age, race affect behavior/ideas

   C. C. Wright Mills (1959): allows us to grasp connection b/ history and biography

      1. history: each society located in broad stream events, generating ideas/proper roles

      2. biography: how individual’s specific experiences (not instincts) central to thinking

II. Origins of Sociology: not superstition/myth, but science (theory tested by sys research)

A.     emerged mid-1800s: when social observers began use sci meth to test ideas

B.     grew from begin indus rev: soc upheaval breaking ties to land/cult of ready answers

  1. tradition: which had provided the answers to life, could no longer be counted on

C.     Auguste Comte proposes positivism: observe/classify hum acts to find fund laws

   1. armchair phil: drew conclusions from informal observations (not modern research)

   2. coins “sociology”: study of society; Gr. logos (study of)/Lat. socius(companion)

   3. seeing results French rev: Comte asks what create soc order, not anarchy/change

   4. principles to be used for reform: of entire society, making it a better place to live

   5. known as “father” sociology: even though conclusions/armchair philos, abandoned

D.Herbert Spencer (2nd founder soc):against interfere evol low (barb) to high(civ)form

  1. social Darwinism: survival of fittest: >capable/intel survive, <capable die out
  2. should not interfere: misguided do-gooders get in way and help less fit to survive
  3. not scientific:  was social philosopher; did not conduct research; ideas discredited

E.Karl Marx: argued that modes of production (economic systems) are root of society

   1. class conflict: key dynamic in capitalist econ; bourgeoisie(owners) vs. workers

   2. elim class conflict: when revolution of proletariat (workers) establish no classes

 F. Emile Durkheim: has sociology recognized as separate discipline (Bourdeaux, 1887)

   1. suicide theory: social factors central: due to stability in group/national differences

         a. examples of suicide rates: Protestants>cath, male>female, unmarried >married

            b. Social integration explains: soc ties, connection/responsibilities impede suicide

      2. gen principal: examine social forces that affect lives, not only individualistic factor

   G. Max Weber: one of most influential sociologists; argues Protestants help capitalism

      1. Key: Cath believe go heaven since baptized & in church: Prot undermine security

            a. Protestants:  don’t know if saved until judgment day: finan success sign of this

            b. spurs savings:so that surplus can be invested to make even more, encourage cap

III. Sociology in North America (estab 1890s): initial domination U of Chicago Soc dep

      1. Key figures: Albion Small (starts depart); George Herbert Mead; Ernest Burgess

2. Talcott Parsons: develops functionalist perspective—parts contribute to whole soc

3. C. Wright Mills: power elite—top leaders bus, politics,military—threat to freedom