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UB SOC 101 - Soc 101 Class 3

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Ethan Kupferberg Soc 101 Class 3 9/3/19A. Micro levelFace to face interactions and behavior gestures, languages, codes of dress social psychology B. Meso level Group to group interaction. Interaction between groups and institutions community groups, trade unions, professional societies, lobbyistsC. Macro level Large scale interactions and processes, typicallyDiversity is a central theme studied by sociologistsDiversity is an important issue in any society, particularly in the united states.Racial and ethnic minority groups currently compromise 27 of those in this country. This percent continues to steadily increase Diversity is a broad concept that includes studying differences in opportunities available to various groups in society The shaping of social institutions by different social factors The formation of group and individual identity The process of social changeSociology developed in the middle of the nineteenth century when European social observers began to use scientific methods to test their ideas. The idea that studying society scientifically emerged over time and was influenced by:1. European Enlightenment (17/18th centuries)In which traditional modes of thinking and explanation based upon superstition, privilege and religious edicts were rejected.Major premises of the medieval world view were questioned:- That the physical and social world was ultimately mysterious- That man recognizes and acknowledges that there was much he could never know- That faith in God was essential to make sense of the world By questioning these premises, enlightenment thinkers were also challenging the dominant social, political and religious order that was based upon privileges rather than merit.- The world is “knowable” and understandable through systematic observation- Man is increasingly viewed as the author of his own story (passive)2.Age of Revolution Upset political systems based on feudalism and the absolute of monarchs Ushered in social upheaval that raised questions about the nature of man and the underlying causes of social behavior and social order.Chaos = condition/contextThe concept of rationality was embraced- That man could control his destiny, effect change and engage on reasoned thinking3.The onset of ImperialismAs the Europeans conquered other nations, they met different cultures and began to ask why cultures varied As Europeans encountered and subjugated peoples in different parts of the world, there was considerable interest in:A) explaining and rambling the similarities and differences between themselves and others B) rationalizing and justifying European dominance over others (so called primitives)4.Discoveries in the natural sciences caused a revolution in the ways of thinking in humanities and philosophy.Belief that the same RATIONALITY that Newton and others had brought to physics and other sciences could be used to solve basic problems of humanityThrough the application of the scientific method: using objective, systematic observations to test theoriesThroughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the disciples of sociology grew in response to the considerable social changes related to the growth of factory- based industrial economy (the industrial Revolution)Social problems such as migration of peasants to the city; overcrowding of cities; the conditions of factory labor; social devianceAuguste Comte (1798-1857)Coined the term sociologybelieved that society could be studied scientifically This approach is known as positivism. (reliance of empirical facts)Intellectual background of positivismEfforts in the rehabilitation of social order after the French revolution 1789. There are two paths: 1. Return to traditional society (political romantics) 2. New values of modernity and dream of future of the scientific industrial society (positivists)According to Comte the history of mankind develops in three stages1. Theological stages 2. Metaphysical stage – rejecting theological transitional 3. Positivists stage Based on scientific understanding of human natureHerbert Spencer and Social Darwinism (1820-1903)1. Survival of the fittestSpencer claimed that social adjustment was a process of social evolution: survival of the fittest(mis)adaptation of the work of DarwinSpencer’s phrase “survival of the fittest” predated Darwin publication if the Origin of Species (1859)Emphasizes the individual struggle for existence Both individuals and entire societies compete and adapt to social changes brought on by technology innovations.Some win, others become “extinct”Used example of factory innovation over small crafts workshops: Craft guilds disappeared in the 19th century since they could not “adjust” to environment changesfavorable to factory production.Antigovernment individualism- Spencer argued for minimal state intervention and regulation in addressing social problemsGovernment regulation and social reforms should not interfere with man’s continued adaptation to societyFor Spencer, intervention was viewed as tragically misguided mistake Feeding or housing the poor simply permitted them to survive and to transmit their unfitness to their children, who in turn would pass it on to their children. In essence, those who could not adopt to society's changing conditions for one reason or another were unfit and should be left to perishCriticism of Spencer: Fallacy of adopting biological evolution for explaining social change Humans, unlike plants and other animals, actively create and alter their environments4. Spencer’s intellectual goals:- To “naturalize” inequality - To render illegitimate claims against institutional racism, classism, and sexism - To justify imperialistic expansionAdditional 19th century sociologists: Toennies and SimmelSpencer was unwilling to imagine sociology as a “moral enterprise” that is scientific observation for the purpose of understanding society and improving itMost other 19th century theorists, however, were critical of the social changes of the time and were interested in the betterment of societyFerdinand Toennies (1855-1936)Argued that social problems stemmed from social adjustment to new environments and conditionsGemeinschaft and Gesellschaft (Before and after)Gemeinschaft: dense, familiar and personal social ties that emphasized a close circle of family and friends found in rural villages and


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