Sociology Class 1: Introduction to Sociology

This weakens the traditional bonds of family, kinship, and religion.

Vergemeinschaftung and Vergesellschaftung.

Feudalism, agricultural economy, personal forms of authority, shared moral universe based on religion, and rigid men-women roles.

Industrial capitalism, urbanization, material inequality, and impersonal authority.

Post-industrial economies based on services and information, decentralized organization, and cultural turn.

Displacement of production by consumption, recognition of language, symbols, and meanings.

Problems of individual and social alienation.

De-rationalization and recognition of diverse social movements.

Positivism, Interpretivism, and Critique

By discussing theories of culture and social change, and elaborating on conceptual and theoretical tools for understanding contemporary human relations.

Their engagements with modernity and contemporary society.

Understanding contemporary human relations.

By discussing the central distinctions between positivism, interpretivism, and critique.

It highlights the importance of culture in understanding social change and modernity.

It can exacerbate existing social inequalities by creating new forms of exclusion and marginalization.

It challenges grand narratives and highlights the complexity and fragmentation of contemporary society.

Modernity is characterized by the rise of the nation-state, economic capitalism, bureaucratization, urbanization, and secularization. Early sociologists such as Marx, Weber, Simmel, and Durkheim sought to understand the social upheaval and disruptions caused by these processes.

Modernity is characterized by industrialization, rationalization, and the rise of the nation-state, whereas postmodernity is marked by post-industrial economies, decentralization, and globalization. Postmodernity is also characterized by a renewed emphasis on culture and the emergence of new social movements.

Sociologists of modernity tend to view culture as a product of industrialization and urbanization, whereas sociologists of postmodernity see culture as a central driving force of social change. This shift in focus has implications for our understanding of social inequality, as it highlights the importance of cultural differences and identity in shaping social disparities.

The reflection point suggests that the distinction between modernity and postmodernity may be less clear-cut than previously thought, and that the two may be part of the same larger process. This reflection has implications for sociological theory, as it highlights the need for ongoing critical reflection and revision of our theoretical frameworks.

Multiculturalism is a key feature of postmodernity, and represents a shift towards greater recognition and celebration of cultural diversity. This has implications for our understanding of social inequality, as it highlights the need for greater recognition and inclusion of marginalized groups.

Life cycle changes refer to the changes in the ways people experience and navigate different stages of life, such as childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. In postmodernity, these changes are often characterized by greater flexibility and individualization, and have implications for our understanding of socialization and identity formation.

Globalization is a key feature of postmodernity, and represents a shift towards greater economic and cultural interconnectedness. This has implications for our understanding of social inequality, as it highlights the ways in which global processes shape local and national-level disparities.

Derationalization refers to the decline of rational, bureaucratic forms of organization and the rise of more decentralized and flexible forms of social organization. In postmodernity, this has implications for our understanding of social organization and the ways in which individuals and groups interact.

Weber's 'Vergemeinschaftung' refers to communal relationships based on shared values and emotions, whereas 'Vergesellschaftung' refers to associative relationships based on rational interests and norms.

Modernization weakens traditional bonds of family, kinship, and religion, leading to problems of individual and social alienation.

Modern societies are characterized by industrial capitalism, urbanization, material inequality, and impersonal authority, whereas pre-modern societies were characterized by feudalism, agricultural economy, and personal forms of authority.

The cultural turn implies the dominance of mass media and popular culture, displacement of production by consumption, and recognition of language, symbols, and meanings in sociological stories.

New social movements are characterized by their focus on cultural and symbolic issues, rather than material inequality, and are often decentralized and non-hierarchical.

Modernization leads to increased material inequality, while also challenging traditional social hierarchies and forms of authority.

Occidentalism implies the superiority of Western values and institutions, which is reflected in the narrative of progress and evolution.

De-rationalization implies a rejection of Enlightenment values of reason and progress, and a focus on cultural and symbolic interactions.

Modernity and postmodernity represent two distinct phases in the development of sociology, with modernity characterized by the rise of nation-states, economic capitalism, and urbanization, and postmodernity marked by globalization, multiculturalism, and decentralization.

In modernity, culture is seen as a reflection of industrial society, whereas in postmodernity, culture is viewed as a arena of struggle and resistance. This shift has significant implications for understanding social inequality.

Early sociologists focused on understanding the rapid social change caused by modernization, with each theorist offering distinct perspectives on the consequences of modernity.

The reflection point highlights the need to consider the blurred lines between modernity and postmodernity, encouraging a more nuanced understanding of their interconnectedness.

Globalization is a key feature of postmodernity, exacerbating social inequalities and highlighting the need for a nuanced understanding of its consequences in the context of modernity and postmodernity.

Life cycle changes in postmodernity refer to the redefinition of traditional life stages, which has significant implications for socialization and our understanding of identity formation.

Multiculturalism is a hallmark of postmodernity, highlighting the importance of recognizing and addressing diverse cultural identities and their impact on social inequality.

Derationalization in postmodernity refers to the decline of traditional authority structures, giving way to decentralized and diverse forms of social organization.

The ways in which the social constitutes the individual and vice-versa

The ability to understand one's own experience and how it fits into the larger world experience

Personal relationships based on traditional and rigid social rules vs. impersonal relationships based on rational calculating self-interest

Personal, face-to-face relations with spontaneous expression of emotions and sentiments

Social behavior based on rational calculating self-interest

Limited, with an emphasis on traditional and rigid social rules

By asking questions about situations that contradict or violate social norms and values

To understand what is problematic in taken-for-granted social norms, practices, or processes