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Sociological theories

Functionalist perspectiveConflict perspectiveInteraction perspectivePost modern perspective

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Founders of the functionalist perspective :

August Comte (1798-1857)Herbert Spencer (1820-1903)Émile Durkheim (1858-1917)

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August Comte (1798-1857) "father of sociology"

The science about society– social physics

Comte invented the term sociology

EvolutionistPositivist

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Comtes positivism

Comte's views of the three stages of the history of sciences. In order as follows, the stages are:

1. Theological - nature has a will of it's own. This stage is broken down into three stages of its own, including animism, polytheism, and monotheism.

2. Metaphysical state - though substituting ideas for a personal will.

3. Positive - a search for absolute knowledge.

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Herbert Spencer (1820-1903)

EnglishmanEvolutionist –

“survival of the fittest”

OptimistLaissez-faire

liberalism

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Émile Durkheim (1858-1917)

Frenchman Evolutionist Division of labour Study of suicide

– “Anomy” Statistics applied in

sociology

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Functionalism

Society is a combination of different parts/institutions such as:– Family, religion, economy and educational system

These institutions secure the evolution and growth of society

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The characteristics of society

Well planned uniformity Stability and equilibrium between different

parts Consensus of the main values Every institution has a function which helps

society to remain stable What is, is good – “natural selection” of good

institutions/functions

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Functionalistic research questions?

Mapping, describing and analysing– The positive functions– The institutions– (The dysfunctions)

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Assignment

Mention all main parts/institutions which you believe are the brick stones of society. How do these parts work together in creating societies equilibrium?

What are the main weaknesses of the functionalist perspective in describing society?

Is it politically biased? If, then how?

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Conflict perspective

Founders? Karl Marx (1818-1883)

– German revolutionist philosopher, sociologist and economist

Friedrich Engels (1820-1895)– German socialist

philosopher

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Marxism

Historical materialism– “It is not the consciousness of men that determines their

existence, but on the contrary, it is their social existence which determines their consciousness...”

Dialectic Class struggle National economy Socialism Communism

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Conflict perspective in modern sociology

Not only focusing on class struggle as Marx did, but on the overall power structure in society, such as conflicts between different groups of interests– Producers and consumers, employers and

employed, Muslims and Christians, teachers and students, parents and kids, personality and culture

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Conflict causes social change

In every society there are conflicts; conflict is the driving force of social change

Conflict does not necessary mean violence, rather tension, competition or disagreement about objectives and values, conflict of interests

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Research questions?

Mapping of power-relations Someone is making benefit of the situation at

the expense of someone else How can we dissolve the conflict? Can there

be a win-win solution?

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Conflict vs. functionalist perspective

The conflict paradigm highlights parts of society where functionalists usually do not focus on

The weakness of the conflict paradigm is that they miss the consensus- and balance in society

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Assignment

The conflict paradigm presupposes that resources and power are limited, which in turn, creates tension and conflicts between different groups.

Investigate some relationships within the school from the viewpoint of conflict theories, for example the relationship between teachers and students, or between school-board and students, or between pastime and studies.

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Assignment

The functionalist paradigm presupposes that every part of society has a (positive) function.

Investigate some relationships within the school from the viewpoint of functionalist perspective, for example the relationship between teachers and students, or between school-board and students, or between pastime and studies.

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Interaction perspective

Max Weber (1860-1920) Verstehen

– Understanding the meaning of human action

– Thought to be characteristic of the social sciences opposed to the natural sciences

Identifies different kinds of authorities – Traditional– Charismatic– Rational

Ideal types– Institutionalised social action

Iron cage

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Interaction perspective/founders

George Herbert Mead (1880-1949)

– Symbolic interaction Human behaviour has a deeper

symbolic meaning Humans learn the meaning of

social behaviour, by socialisation

Erving Goffman (1922- )– Role theory

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Objectivity/impartiality

Is objectivity possible in (social) sciences? Scientists have consciousness formed by

their personal experience, they live in a certain culture, place and time, they have their personal interests

Is objectivity desirable in science?

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Postmodernism/post structuralism

Michel Foucault (1926-1984) History of madness and medicine History of sexuality The Archaeology of Knowledge Deconstruction Discourse/discourse analysis Plurality of knowledge and method Power and knowledge; Relativism