BEGINNING TO SEE: A SOCIOLOGICAL CORE

CHAPTER 1

Social Theory

Everyone creates theories to make sense of experience

“Common-sense theories”

What is a Social Theory?

1. Explains how & why specific facts are related

2. Produces testable (falsifiable) hypotheses

3. Creates order

4. Make sense of world & our place in the world

Theories of the Heavens and the Earth

Bakuba Kingdom of Congo: Sun, moon and stars were vomited by a giant deity

Ancient China: Universe hatched from a black egg

Aztec: Coatlique was impregnated by an obsidian knife She gave birth to moon goddess (Coyolxanuhqui) and

many sons who became the stars Rest of cosmos emerged from conflict between Coatlique,

her son Huitzilopochtli (the god of war) and other children, who were murdered.

North America - Iroquois

Heavenly inhabitant, the Great Spirit Punished daughter for becoming

pregnant

Threw her through a hole formed when he ripped up a giant tree

Iroquois Creation TheoryOrdered Great Turtle to dive into waterBring up mudWait for daughter to land on its backWhen she landed, she gathered up mudCreated Earth as island on Great Turtle's

back

Giant Turtle with Earth

Theory of the Heavens:The Universe

Greeks described first realistic model of universe

Earth=Center A sphere

Stars attached to sphere

Earth the Center of the Sphere

Where Do Babies Come From?

Theories of Procreation

Man’s sperm=tiny babies Grow in woman’s womb

Baby placed in womb by woman’s dead female relatives

Origins of Classical Social Theory

Change after stability (Feudalism: 8th -19th century)Widespread change Examples:

Political Economic Class conflict Social disorganization

Uncertainty about the future

Classical Social Theory

►What is a theorist?

►What does a theorist do?

What Does a Theorist Do?Observes Senses

Sight Sound Touch

What Does a Theorist Do?

Mind Selective perceptionFiltering what we see and hear to suit our needs

What Does a Theorist Do?

MindLogic of ordering

Information that is uniform and well-organized

What comes first? Second?What causes what?

What Does a Theorist Do?

MindHuman purpose

Why do we exist? Connect with one another To learn Maintain power

Modernity

Historical period:

19th & 20th century nation-states

Modernity & Nation-StatesNation-state: Form of state or country

Defined borders and territory Relatively homogeneous people

Race or cultural backgroundSame languageSame or similar religionShare cultural, “national,” values

Iceland, Japan, Portugal

Modernity & the Enlightenment Faith in:

Science Objective truth Rationality Inevitable progressCapitalism UrbanizationLarge industrial enterprise

Enlightenment: 17th & 18th Centuries

Reason-> Create better worldEliminate

Ignorance Superstition Tyranny

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBKRCW8gk0k&feature=related

Modernity & the Enlightenment

Mass literacy, media, and culture

Political democracy

Secularization

Similarities and Differences

Sociology & Anthropology

Comparing Sociology & Anthropology

Social Sciences

Similarities and Connections

Individual experience shaped by society and cultural traditions

Culture transmitted through social relations (social interaction)

Inspired by classic theorists: Especially Marx, Durkheim, and

Weber

Social Theory Timelines

History of Anthropology Timeline

http://historyofanthropology.eu/

History of Sociology Timeline

http://www.palgrave.com/sociology/cohen3e/students/timeline.html

(1760-1825)

Claude Henri de Rouvroy, comte de Saint-Simon

Saint-Simon: Social Environment

Impoverished aristocratic familyFrench social philosopher

American Revolution (Soldier)

French RevolutionIndustrializationEnlightenment

Saint-Simon: Ideas

Nature & society governed by laws

Society=Organism

Science replaces religion Scientists take the place of priests

Saint-Simon: Ideas

State’s 3 responsibilities:1. Public works

“Industrial army”Construct roads, bridges, canals, plant

forests

2. Free education3. Recreation *

August Comte (1798-1857)

Comte: Social Environment

1) Social UpheavalPolitical Instability

Democratic Oligarchy of middle-class elites Dictatorship of Napoleon (1799-1814) Return to Bourbon monarchy

Economic problems

Religious turmoil

Comte: Social Environment

2) Religion & Politics Parents were Roman Catholics

Power of Church decreasingRole in educationLand confiscated

Comte: Goals for Sociology

1) Create order Spiritual order Social & political problems

Diagnose & Cure like diseases

Society’s basic unit=Family

Comte: Goals for Sociology

2) Discover natural laws

3) Replace Catholic Church as source of: Truth Understanding Order

Comte: Intellectual Roots

Saint-Simon Comte’s mentor Both had theory with 3 stages

Comte: Intellectual Roots

Benjamin Franklin“Secular code” of morality

Based on scientific understanding of human nature

Comte: Ideas

“Law of 3 Stages” Human Thought1. Theological Stage (Understanding based

on)Will of Human-like:

Gods Spirits Demons Ghosts

Early Theological Stage

Objects are alive & have human-like qualities Rocks Trees Weapons

Later Theological Stage

Monotheism One all-powerful god Explained everything

2) Metaphysical Stage(1300 to his time period)

Transition

Upheaval & chaos

Feudal institutions destroyed

Make way for Positive Stage

3) Positive Stage

Invariable natural laws Sociological truths

High Priests of Sociology Positive spirit

Morality & duties regulate society

3) Positive Stage (continued)

Education Private economic activities No government intervention Restrict pretensions of wealthy Silences the poor

Positive Stage (continued)

Social inequality= “just” Based on individual abilities Shared truth

Comte’s TermsSocial Statics= StabilitySocial Dynamics= Change

Social Realism Society is real “Social organism”

Comte: Human Nature

Humans incapable of self-control

Need social (societal) control

Comte: Women’s Role in Society

Intellectually inferior to menEmotionally superior (e.g., altruism)

Model altruism for children & menMake society harmonious

Comte: Relevance to Sociology

1. Coined term “Sociology”

2. Applied sociology

3. Social statics & Social dynamics

4. Emphasize positivismScience creates truth