Classical Social Theories Lecture 2 PDF

Classical Social Theories The Enlightenment  THE ENLIGHTENMENT DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIOLOGY TODAY’S QUOTE C. WRIGHT MILLS (1916-1962) Mills stated: “Neither the life of an individual nor the history of a society can be understood without understanding both.” The sociological imagination is...

Classical Social Theories The Enlightenment  THE ENLIGHTENMENT DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIOLOGY TODAY’S QUOTE C. WRIGHT MILLS (1916-1962) Mills stated: “Neither the life of an individual nor the history of a society can be understood without understanding both.” The sociological imagination is making the connection between personal challenges and larger social issues. IMPORTANCE OF ENLIGHTENMENT Factors that fostered emergence of the discipline of sociology is that of the intellectual revolution referred to as the enlightenment. This was established by philosophers, economists, scientists and other thinkers who introduced new ideas and criticised existing approaches to all of existence. a focus on empiricism and rationality. Like the political revolutionaries the intellectuals of the enlightenment advocated a radical break with the past. AT THE END OF THE LECTURE Define enlightenment Examine Factors that fostered enlightenment; Examine how these factors led to the emergence of sociology WHAT WAS THE ENLIGHTENMENT? The Enlightenment was an intellectual movement in Europe during the 18th century that led to a whole new world view.  What is the Enlightenment? THE ENLIGHTENMENT OCCURRED B/W 1650 -1789 Thinkers believed reason could be used to uncover the laws that govern human life Once the laws were known people could make society better Believed that reason was a much Reason is the “light” that better guide than faith or reveals human error and showed the way to truth tradition  l Age of Reason (18th century Enlightenment) Natural laws apply l Rights to Life, l to government as Liberty, and well as science! Property A FAIR society is based on l REASON, not “Divine Right” REVOLUTION!!!  The Age of Reason Scientific Revolution convinced many European thinkers about power of reason Scientific method and reason led to discoveries about physical world Wondered if reason could be used to study human nature, society New generation of philosophers, 1600s Viewed reason as best way to understand truth Concluded reason could be used to solve all human problems This time of optimism now called the Enlightenment CENTRAL CONCEPTS OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT A. The methods of natural science should be used to understand all aspects of life - through the use of REASON B. Discover the natural laws of human society as well as the natural world (“social science”) C. The idea of progress - The confidence in human power, human reason to improve society Defining the Enlightenment: Everything was Questioned! What society worked best? Why were laws unjust? How did the universe operate? Was there a God? Was the Earth really 4,000 years old? Were there natural laws that governed people? Who had the power to rule? How did the human mind work? BELIEFS Belief in Progress Through reason a better society was possible through progress we would continue to expand our knowledge in the sciences Secular Outlook More worldly view of life church is continuing to lose power questioning of all church beliefs Importance Of the Individual own ability to reason importance of the in society Individual achievement BELIEFS Belief in the supremacy of reason over pleasure; conviction that humans could perfect society through the application of the intellect to human affairs Science takes its place for the first time  BELIEFS The intellectuals of the Enlightenment (called Philosophes) believed: The universe could be understood through reason Everything in nature could be explained by natural laws—universal truths found through observation (Religion is not necessary to understand the world)  BELIEFS The belief in progress—the world can be improved upon & perfected People have natural rights—personal freedoms that allow people to enjoy liberty (no restrictions on speech, religion, or the economy)  CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT—AMERICA & EUROPE Causes Effects Religious Fanaticism Deism—”natural law” Rise of merchant class—aka bourgeoisie Witch trials Science/Logic/Reason = Truth Beginning of a merchant class—aka Rise of philosophers bourgeoisie Revolution x 3 Landed Aristocracy The “perfect” society Monarchies Separation of Church & State Democracy Church & State united Church = Truth ORIGINS OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT: THE RENAISSANCE HUMANISTS In the 14th and 15th centuries, "humanists“ celebrated the human race and its capacities. They argued they were worshipping God more appropriately than the priests and monks who harped on original sin and asked people to humble themselves. ORIGINS OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT: RENAISSANCE CHALLENGED CHURCH AUTHORITY In the 16th century, various humanists had begun to ask dangerous questions. François Rabelais, a French monk and physician influenced by Protestantism, challenged the Church's authority, ridiculing many religious doctrines as absurd.  SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION LEADS TO ENLIGHTENMENT 1500-1700: European scientists using reason to discover laws of nature Very successful: Planetary movements, chemistry, vaccine for smallpox, etc. Early 1700’s: If people used reason to find laws that governed the physical world, why not use reason to discover natural laws? Laws that govern human nature Reformers begin studying human nature and societal problems ORIGINS OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT: ECONOMIC CHANGE During the late Middle Ages, peasants had begun to move from rural estates to the towns in search of increased freedom and prosperity. ORIGINS OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT: ECONOMIC AND POLITICALCHANGE As trade and communication improved during the Renaissance, the ordinary town-dweller began to realize that things need not always go on as they had for centuries. People could write new charters, form new governments, pass new laws, begin new businesses.  ORIGINS OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT: RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE Protestants and Catholics denounced each other as followers of Satan and people could be imprisoned for attending the wrong church or for not attending any. FIVE KEY IDEAS OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT The five important philosophical concepts are 1. Reason 2. Nature 3. Happiness 4. Progress 5. Liberty  LIBERTY *Guaranteed freedoms/rights that everyone should have like press, speech, religion. *Exploring the issues of equality amongst races and gender. *Exploring what is the best form of government and why. *Create a government that will help overcome human cruelty and violence by using its power to further social improvements. PROGRESS A SCIENTIFIC approach can lead to perfect humanity and science.  The Enlightenment birthed two revolutions imperative to Western Civilization: American Revolution French Revolution IMPACT/ EFFECTS OF THE The Enlightenment created an outlet for intellectuals/educated to openly debate issues w/in society ENLIGHTENMENT This era allowed for a greater sense of ‘universalism’ where peoples did not live for their own sake, but sought betterment for others PROGRESSION TIMELINE  It is the novelty of the situation people faced in the 18th and 19th centuries which gave birth to sociology. EMERGENCE OF People saw the potential for a new and SOCIOLOGY better society brought about through science, rationality and mass societies saw the possibility (and reality) of a much worse society of poverty and degradation also enabled by these same changes..  The early sociologists tackled both the positive and the negative in the new age of modernity EMERGENCY OF SOCIOLOGY We can therefore get a better understanding of how these changes had come about and what we should do in response to them THANK YOU That was the first part of our session Let’s take a 5 min break