Intro to Sociology (SOC 100B)Sociology- scientific/systematic study of social life, groups, and societiesThinks systematically, the social influence of one’s behaviors, experiences, identityRace, gender, class are social structuresNotion that we are also a product of societySociology connects biography and history, cause and effect.Sociology- a distinctive form of thought about modern society rooted in an intellectual movement known as the EnlightenmentPhilosophes- thinkersAgency- ability to influence changeModern thinking- idea the society can evolve and therefore can be transformed by usStructure (reflection upon society is a characteristic of modern thought)Pre-enlightenment/cosmic thinking- can’t do much to change big structuresIndustrial Revolution- economic transformation during that timeFirst factory in 1781 EnglandFrench Revolution- political transformation during that timeSaint Simon, Rousseau, Voltaire, Adam Smith (An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes ofthe Wealth of Nations)Auguste Comte (1796-1857)- coined the term sociologyA field that would produce knowledge as scientific evidence rather than philosophical reflectionCritical rationalism- combines the application of reason to social, political, and economicissues with the concern with progress, emancipation, and improvement and is therefore critical with status quo (existing state of affairs, in the state of which things were). Can be seen as precursor of Comte’s positive sociologyPositivism- the striving for universal signs, which through the application of a reason tempered by experience and experiment, would eliminate prejudice, superstition, ignorance, and intoleranceEnlightenment- the creation in the 18th century Europe with new framework of ideas about man, society, and nature which challenged the traditional world viewphilosophies made livings off writing, which only the church had done beforehand- slogan “Dare to know”- sapere audeEncyclopedie- great publishing enterprise to collect all knowledgevalued interest of mankind over country or clanParadigm- a set of interconnected ideas, value, principles, and facts, which provide bothan image of the natural and social world and a way of thinking about it; model of thinkingSchema- set of ideas of how to see/do something (eg. schema for riding an elevator)Concepts cannot always be seen, such as the concept of sociology10 elements of Enlightenment thinking:1. Reason- rationality, organizing knowledge2. Empiricism- all thought and knowledge based on empirical facts3. Science- scientific knowledge is key to expanding all human knowledge4. Universalism- concept that science and reason could be applied everywhere5. Progress- situations can be improved by application of reason and science6. Individualism- individual is starting point of all knowledge and action7. Toleration- notion that all humans are essentially the same8. Freedom- opposition to traditional constraints9. Uniformity- characteristics of human nature always the same10. Secularism- anti clericism- bring knowledge outside the sphere of religionSociology born in the 19th centurySocial theory- abstract interpretation that can be used to explain many situations to helpmake sense of what we see empiricallyDurkheim (1858-1917) - Anomie- rootlessness, feeling of not being attached to something; no norms; no identityJob satisfaction- not being alienated from the product of your labor- Interested in sociology of moral life. Sociology is Sui generis, a reality unto itself. It is aguide to the individual. It generates on its own and is its own entity. Social facts are aspects of social life that guide our actions as individuals. Society should be studied with the same objectivity of rigor as scientists study the natural world. Society is like a body and all its’ parts must work together to function well. Organic vs. Mechanical Solidarity:Organic solidarity- depends on consensus & cooperation; division of labor (social institutions)Mechanical solidarity- people did what they were toldLe Suicide- Generally suicide has some relationship with social rules or values and the individualElement Reforms of Religious Life- criticizes the arrogant claim that western culture makes that science controls western life; combats anomieKarl Marx (1818-1883)- Alienation/EstrangementInternational supporter; saw class conflict as the motor of historyClass struggle over control of means of production; cannot get profit without squeezing laborAll human history comes from class struggle; materialist construction of historyFuturized a classless societyCapitalism- system/mode of production that involves bourgeoisie that owns the means of production, with a working class/proletariat “wage workers.”Max Weber (1864-1920)- father of modern sociology; wrote diverse amount of works“The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism” in 1905- discussed his idea that the rise of modern capitalism was attributable to Protestantism, particularly CalvinismIron cage of rationality- powerful critique over dehumanizing effect of bureaucracy & over rationalizing idea of social orderSubjective meaning in human life- “Why?” “How do I feel?”Interest in culture, human spiritScientific account of capitalism & bureaucracySpirit of ideal type that represents an ethical orientation/disposition of model capitalistTries to incorporate Marx’s theory but criticizes Marx’s materialist conception of history and tries to highlight ideas & valuesMartineau (1802-1826)WEB Dubois (1868-1963)- predicted that 20th century is about race politicsDouble consciousness- sensation of always looking at one’s self simultaneously throughone’s own eyes & through the eyes of the world1. functionalism/structural functionalism2. conflict theory3. symbolic interactionism- micro-interactions creating