Questions and Answers
Who is Auguste Comte (1798-1857)?
He is considered the father of sociology.
Comte stated that sociology needed to be treated like any other _____ _____
scientific discipline
Define Comte's Positivism.
Applying the laws of math and science to social affairs.
Who is Harriet Martineau (1802-76)?
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Who did Harriet Martineau study and translate books from French into English for?
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What social changes did Harriet Martineau write about?
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Published in 1837, what is 'Society in America' about?
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Who is Herbert Spencer (1820-1903)?
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Herbert Spencer's philosophy is often referred to as?
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What did Herbert Spencer believe?
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Who studied Herbert Spencer?
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Who is Emile Durkheim (1858-1917)?
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What was Emile Durkheim interested in?
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Define Anomie - an issue to Emile Durkheim.
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What is Emile Durkheim's view on religion?
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What did Emile Durkheim write about in 1897, and what is the name of the book?
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Who is Karl Marx (1818-83)?
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What is Karl Marx's conflict theory?
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What did Karl Marx believe about capitalism?
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What is Socialism?
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Who is Max Weber (1864-1920)?
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Who is W.E.B. Du Bois?
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Who is Jane Addams?
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Who are the major sociologists?
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What are the major sociology theories?
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What are Sociological Theories?
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Define Structural Functionalism.
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What is postmodernist theory?
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What is the role of the Symbolic Interactionist, according to George Herbert Mead?
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Study Notes
Major Figures in Sociology
- Auguste Comte (1798-1857) is recognized as the father of sociology, advocating for its classification as a scientific discipline.
- Harriet Martineau (1802-1876) is celebrated as the first feminist, known for her social activism and critiques of American society during her travels in 1835.
- Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) promoted a philosophy termed "social darwinism," stressing the idea of "survival of the fittest" among societies.
- Emile Durkheim (1858-1917) contributed to sociology's academic validation, exploring social factors and concepts like anomie, which describes social disconnection.
- Karl Marx (1818-1883) is heralded as the progenitor of communism, focusing on the conflict between capitalists and workers and the inequalities inherent under capitalism.
- Max Weber (1864-1920) is known as a pioneering German sociologist who analyzed modern life and societal structures.
Key Sociology Concepts
- Positivism, as defined by Comte, advocates for applying scientific laws to social phenomena.
- Anomie refers to feelings of disconnection within society, highlighted by Durkheim's studies.
- Socialism is characterized by government control over essential commodities and industries.
- Structural Functionalism views society as an organized system where institutions work interdependently.
- Postmodernist theory addresses the complexity and variability of social reality, emphasizing its pluralistic nature.
Influential Works and Contributions
- Martineau's significant writings focus on issues such as labor unions, women's suffrage, and abolition of slavery, exposing American hypocrisy in her book "Society in America" (1837).
- Durkheim’s important text "Suicide" (1897) examines the links between societal factors and individual actions related to suicide.
- W.E.B. Dubois was a co-founder of the NAACP and the first African American to receive a doctorate, advocating for civil rights and social equity.
Theoretical Approaches
- Major sociological theories include Symbolic Interactionism, emphasizing meanings derived from symbols; Conflict Theory, addressing power dynamics in society; and Structural Functionalism, focusing on societal interrelations.
- Sociological theories encompass diverse approaches that aim to explain social phenomena and structures, referred to as perspectives or paradigms.
Symbolic Interactionism
- George Herbert Mead is notable for developing Symbolic Interactionism, which highlights the importance of gestures, language, and symbols in human communication, creating shared meanings within society.
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Description
Test your knowledge on key figures and concepts from Chapter 2 of Sociology, including the contributions of Auguste Comte, the importance of scientific discipline in sociology, and the definition of positivism. This set of flashcards will help reinforce your understanding of foundational sociological ideas and early feminist perspectives.