Social Theory Honors Section Sociology 475 Professor Cameron Macdonald Wednesdays 3:30-6pm 8146 Social Science Social Science 6112 Office Hours, Tuesdays 2:30-5:00 COURSE DESCRIPTION In this course we will study major thinkers and theoretical perspectives within sociology. In particular, we will explore how these thinkers address four of the central concerns of modernity: capitalism as a form of social order; the interplay between democracy and bureaucracy; and the role of religion in the face of the rise of scientific thought and the concept of the individual in complex societies. Students can expect to: (1) become familiar with the foundational concepts, analytic frameworks, and debates that inform sociological thought and practice; (2) understand these ideas, concepts, and debates in terms of the socio-historical contexts in which they developed; and (3) learn to identify and assess the assumptions and implications underlying these sociological theories. You will also be expected to apply these theoretical perspectives to contemporary problems. COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS - You will be expected to do all of the assigned readings, attend all lectures, and participate in class discussions. The material we will be studying is sometimes difficult, but always fascinating – careful reading of the texts, diligent note-taking during lectures, and active participation in class will be essential to your success. - Attendance is mandatory. You will also be expected to do close reading of the assigned texts. When we discuss the theorists presented, you will be expected to be able to refer to the page numbers and location of relevant arguments and citations. This means you should bring the book and your notes to class every week. I will give a set of study questions for you to follow with each week’s readings. - Grades will be based on the following breakdown: Attendance/Participation – 100 points; Paper 1 – 50 points; Paper 2 – 50 points; Paper III – group research project and paper – 100 points. REQUIRED READINGS Anonymous. Writing in Social Studies 10 (on learn@uw) Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America, J.P. Mayer Ed. New York: Harper and Row, 1988. ISBN 0-06-091522-6 Mill, John Stuart. On Liberty and Other Essays (Oxford World Classics), John Gray, ed. Oxford University Press, 2008. ISBN 0199535736 Robert C. Tucker, ed. The Marx-Engels Reader. Second ed. New York: W. W. Norton, 1978. ISBN 039309040XSociology 475H Spring, 2012 2Karl Marx. Capital. Ben Fowkes, Ed. New York: Penguin Classics, 1992. ISBN 039472657X Emile Durkheim. Suicide: A Study in Sociology. Ed. George Simpson. Trans. John A. Spaulding and George Simpson. New York: The Free Press, 1997. ISBN 0684836327 Emile Durkheim. The Division of Labor in Society. Trans. W. D. Halls. New York: The Free Press, 1997. ISBN 0684836386 Emile Durkheim. The Elementary Forms of Religious Life. Trans. Karen E. Fields. New York: The Free Press, 1995. ISBN 0029079373 Max Weber. The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. Trans. Talcott Parsons. New York: Routledge, 1930. ISBN 041525406X Max Weber. From Max Weber: Essays in Sociology. Trans. and eds. H. H. Gerth and C. Wright Mills. New York: Oxford University Press, 1958. ISBN 0195004620 Additional selections from Learn@UW will be marked in the course outline with an * COURSE OUTLINE Week One: Modernity and the Invention of Social Theory Wednesday, January 25: The Concept of Modernity Overview and Introduction to the course Lecture on Modernity Readings: Social Studies 10 – Writing Social Theory* Robert A. Nisbet, “The Two Revolutions,” The Sociological Tradition* PART I: CAPITALISM, DEMOCRACY AND BUREAUCRACY Week Two: The Concept of Democracy Wednesday, February 1: Introduction to de Tocqueville & the Perils of Individualism Readings: “On de Tocqueville” from Ritzer, Classical Social Theory* Author’s Introduction, pps. 9-20; Volume I, Part I, chapter 3, chs, 4-5 (pp. 58-70, 87-98). Part II: Chapters 4-9 (pps. 189-202; pg. 230 bottom, pg. 231-290; 301-315);Sociology 475H Spring, 2012 3 Week Three: The Critique of Democracy Wednesday, February 8: Democratic Despotism Readings: Democracy in America, Volume II, Part 1: Chapters 1-2 (pps. 429-436); vol. II, Part II, chs. 1-8 13, 20 (pps. 503-528, 535-538, 555-558); vol II, Part III, chs. 17, 21-22 (pps. 614-616, 634-645); Vol. II, Part IV, Entire. Week Four: Another Version of Liberty Wednesday, February 15: Negative and Positive Liberties Readings: John Stuart Mill, On Liberty: entire “Tocqueville on Democracy in America:” pp. 181-182, 214-267* Week Five Karl Marx: The Young Philosopher Wednesday, February 22: On Alienation Ritzer, “Introduction to Marx”* Feuerbach, The Essence of Christianity* Marx-Engels Reader, “Contribution to the Critique,” pps. 53-54; “On the Jewish Question” pps. 26-52; “Contribution to the Critique” pps. 53-54; “Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844,” pps. 66-81; “Theses on Feuerbach,” pps. 143-145. . Week Six: The Critique of Capitalism Wednesday, February 29: Historical Materialism & Revolutionary Program Readings: Marx-Engels Reader, “Marx on the History of His Opinions,” pps. 3-6.“The German Ideology,” pps. 146-200, “Manifesto of the Communist Party,” pps. 469-500. Week Seven: The Critique of Capital Wednesday, March 7: The Commodity and Its Origins Readings: Karl Marx. Capital, Vol. One, pps. 89-93,125-139, 163-177, 247-257, 266-285,300-306, 340-346, 672. Karl Marx. Capital, Vol. One,769-791, 873-895, 927-940 ****Paper I Due 5pm via turnitin.com****Sociology 475H Spring, 2012 4 Week Eight: Weber and Modern Western Capitalism Wednesday, March 14: Capitalism in the West and the “Calling” Readings: The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, pps. 13-31, 47-78, 85-92, 108-117. 155-183. PART TWO: MODERN SOCIETY, THE INDIVIDUAL, AND THE PROBLEM OF MEANING Week Nine: Max Weber and the Problem of Rationalization Wednesday, March 21: Bureaucracy and the Types of Legitimate Domination Readings: From Max Weber, “Bureacracy” pps. 196-199, 204-216, 220 (bottom)-235, 240-244; “Politics as a Vocation” in From Max Weber, pps. 77-128. “The Types of Legitimate Domination”* “On Socialism” * Week Ten: The Problem of Meaning in Technocratic