Sociological theories

1. Sociological theories Functionalist perspective Conflict perspective Interaction perspective Post modern perspective TOK202

2. Founders of the functionalist perspective : • August Comte (1798-1857) • Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) • Émile Durkheim (1858-1917) TOK202

3. August Comte (1798-1857) "father of sociology" • The science about society • social physics • Comte invented the term sociology • Evolutionist • Positivist TOK202

4. Comtes positivism Comte's views of the three stages of the history of sciences. In order as follows, the stages are: • 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. • Metaphysical state - though substituting ideas for a personal will. • Positive - a search for absolute knowledge. TOK202

5. Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) • Englishman • Evolutionist – “survival of the fittest” • Optimist • Laissez-faire liberalism TOK202

6. Émile Durkheim (1858-1917) • Frenchman • Evolutionist • Division of labour • Study of suicide • “Anomy” • Statistics applied in sociology TOK202

7. 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 TOK202

8. 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 TOK202

9. Functionalistic research questions? • Mapping, describing and analysing • The positive functions • The institutions • (The dysfunctions) TOK202

10. 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? TOK202

11. Conflict perspective • Founders? • Karl Marx (1818-1883) • German revolutionist philosopher, sociologist and economist • Friedrich Engels (1820-1895) • German socialist philosopher TOK202

12. 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 TOK202

13. 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 TOK202

14. 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 TOK202

15. 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? TOK202

16. 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 TOK202

17. 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. TOK202

18. 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. TOK202

19. 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 TOK202

20. 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 TOK202

21. 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? TOK202

22. 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 TOK202