Questions and Answers
What are social facts?
Emile Durkheim's term for patterned ways of conditions and circumstances that exist outside any one individual but that nevertheless determines one's course of action.
What is classical sociological theory?
The era during which sociology first emerged as a discipline and was institutionalized in universities (mid 19th century to early 20th century).
What is civil society?
Open spaces of debate relatively free from government control.
What is the Enlightenment?
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What is an analytical frame?
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What does class refer to in Marxist theory?
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What is class struggle?
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What are commodities?
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What is fetishism of commodities?
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What is surplus value?
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What does social revolution mean in Marxist theory?
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What is alienation?
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What is theory in sociology?
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What are scientific theories?
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What was the role of the Enlightenment in sociology?
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What is sociology?
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What does superstructure refer to?
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What is objective structure?
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What does capital refer to?
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Who are capitalists?
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Study Notes
Key Concepts in Sociological Theory
- Social Facts: Term coined by Emile Durkheim, referring to societal conditions that influence individual actions, existing independently of the individual.
- Classical Sociological Theory: Emergence of sociology as a discipline from the mid-19th century to early 20th century, with institutionalization in universities.
- Civil Society: Public spaces allowing free debate, typically operating without governmental interference.
Historical Context
- Enlightenment (late 1700s to early 1800s): An intellectual movement questioning established beliefs and laying the groundwork for sociological inquiry.
- Enlightenment (alternative definition): Another reference to the late 17th to early 18th century period marking the origins of sociology.
Frameworks and Structures
- Analytical Frame: A framework for analyzing social phenomena, forming a foundational component of social research alongside theories, data, and synthesized ideas. Two kinds include case and aspect-based frames.
- Super Structure: Encompasses all non-economic societal elements, such as legal, political, and educational systems, along with common knowledge.
Marxist Terminology
- Class: Defined by Marx as groups with shared positions regarding the means of production.
- Class Struggle: Strife over control of production forces and resource distribution, positioning classes as historical agents.
- Commodities: Objects that fulfill human needs, evaluated by their characteristics and the degree to which they satisfy wants.
- Fetishism of Commodities: Concept indicating the distorted perception of goods, where they are viewed as having inherent qualities or powers.
- Surplus Value: The discrepancy between workers' wages and the value generated from their labor, highlighting exploitation in the capitalist system.
- Social Revolution: Transitions between different modes of production as theorized by Marx.
- Alienation: The estrangement of workers from the production process and the products they create, leading to dehumanization.
Theoretical Foundations
- Theory: A set of generalized statements that connect various observations, essential for understanding social phenomena.
- Scientific Theories: Frameworks that explain and make predictions about social phenomena while offering tests for falsifiability.
- Sociology: The scientific study of society akin to the biological and physical sciences; first termed by Auguste Comte.
- Objective Structure: The understanding of self and society shaped by the objective class position held by individuals.
- Capital: Refers to the materials and monetary resources necessary for production.
- Capitalists: Individuals advocating for capitalism, typically representing wealthy factions in society.
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Description
This quiz focuses on key concepts in classical and contemporary sociological theory, ideal for students studying sociology. It includes important terms like 'Social Facts' and 'Classical Sociological Theory', providing definitions and context. Test your knowledge of influential sociological ideas and their impact on understanding society.