Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is a characteristic of most modern societies, especially those with a steady flow of immigrants?
What is a characteristic of most modern societies, especially those with a steady flow of immigrants?
Multiculturality
What are the two significant aspects of multiculturality that are of great importance to social scientists?
What are the two significant aspects of multiculturality that are of great importance to social scientists?
Artistic and intellectual richness, and conflict and animosity
What does the term 'imperfect enculturation' refer to?
What does the term 'imperfect enculturation' refer to?
The fact that societies are not able to mould the young into complete adoption of traditional values, beliefs, and codes of conduct
What is an example of constructive deviation that led to significant cultural change?
What is an example of constructive deviation that led to significant cultural change?
Signup and view all the answers
What are some factors that can produce great social changes, aside from wars and natural calamities?
What are some factors that can produce great social changes, aside from wars and natural calamities?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a significant issue that arises from the imperfection of enculturation in humans and the nature of complex societies?
What is a significant issue that arises from the imperfection of enculturation in humans and the nature of complex societies?
Signup and view all the answers
How does human loyalty differ from that of an ant?
How does human loyalty differ from that of an ant?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the significance of deviants, such as Leonardo and Einstein, in shaping the history of the Western world?
What is the significance of deviants, such as Leonardo and Einstein, in shaping the history of the Western world?
Signup and view all the answers
What aspect of social science is concerned with the study of dysfunctional behavior and malfunctional phenomena?
What aspect of social science is concerned with the study of dysfunctional behavior and malfunctional phenomena?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the counterpart of disease in social science?
What is the counterpart of disease in social science?
Signup and view all the answers
What branch of philosophy is closely connected with social science?
What branch of philosophy is closely connected with social science?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the focus of the philosophy of social science in this book?
What is the focus of the philosophy of social science in this book?
Signup and view all the answers
What aspect of social science is concerned with the study of how we can know whether our notions or theories are 'true' or 'false'?
What aspect of social science is concerned with the study of how we can know whether our notions or theories are 'true' or 'false'?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the significance of understanding a healthy system of social organization in social science?
What is the significance of understanding a healthy system of social organization in social science?
Signup and view all the answers
Why is it important to consider ethical issues in social science?
Why is it important to consider ethical issues in social science?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the significance of the history of social science in relation to ethical issues?
What is the significance of the history of social science in relation to ethical issues?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary task of an individual during the period of economic dependence?
What is the primary task of an individual during the period of economic dependence?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the term used to describe the process by which an individual is molded into a participating member of a culture?
What is the term used to describe the process by which an individual is molded into a participating member of a culture?
Signup and view all the answers
What is meant by 'multiculturality' in the context of enculturation?
What is meant by 'multiculturality' in the context of enculturation?
Signup and view all the answers
What is an example of how cultural plasticity is demonstrated in the human species?
What is an example of how cultural plasticity is demonstrated in the human species?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary function of institutions such as families, churches, and schools during the period of dependence?
What is the primary function of institutions such as families, churches, and schools during the period of dependence?
Signup and view all the answers
Why is the period of dependence not only focused on economic skills but also on cultural values and norms?
Why is the period of dependence not only focused on economic skills but also on cultural values and norms?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the significance of 'imperfect enculturation' in the context of socialization?
What is the significance of 'imperfect enculturation' in the context of socialization?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the role of social scientists in studying the institutions that function during the period of dependence?
What is the role of social scientists in studying the institutions that function during the period of dependence?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Social Sciences and Social Organization
- Social sciences study the interactions among people, including cooperation and conflict, to achieve collective objectives.
- The system of social organization may be deficient in certain respects, making it difficult for people to cooperate effectively.
- Social sciences also focus on dysfunctional behavior, such as crime and war, and malfunctional phenomena, like unemployment and pollution.
Ethics and Philosophy of Social Science
- Social sciences are closely connected with ethics, the study of what is good and bad in a moral sense.
- A great deal of social science history has been concerned with ethical issues.
- The philosophy of social science focuses on how we know whether our notions or theories about empirical phenomena are true or false.
Human Societies and Enculturation
- Humans are not the only animals that form societies.
- Economic dependence may last until the age of thirty or longer, during which the individual acquires knowledge and habits to fit into society.
- Institutions like families, churches, and schools play a major role in this process.
- Enculturation is the process by which the individual is molded into a participating member of a continuing culture.
- Two important points to note about enculturation are multiculturality and imperfect enculturation.
Multiculturality and Imperfect Enculturation
- Multiculturality refers to the fact that there are many human cultures, and individuals are enculturated into restricted groups.
- Cultural plasticity is notable, as people can adapt to new cultures.
- Multiculturality creates artistic and intellectual richness, but also leads to conflict and animosity.
- Imperfect enculturation refers to the fact that most societies are not able to mold the young into complete adoption of traditional values and beliefs.
- Deviation from traditional values can be both dysfunctional and constructive, leading to cultural change.
Loyalty and Complex Societies
- The imperfection of enculturation raises the issue of loyalty, as humans are members of many social groups with conflicting claims.
- Loyalty is a complex issue in human societies, unlike in ants, which are members of only one social group.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
This quiz explores the complexities of social organization, including conflicts and deficiencies that hinder cooperation and collective goals.