SOCI 333 -Contemporary Sociological Theory- PDF

SOCI 333 -Contemporary Sociological Theory- Dr. Gbenga Adejare Paradigm Shift: Background Thomas Samuel Kuhn (1922-1996), a Havard historian and philosopher is credited for having a major influence on an inquiry into the shifting sociological paradigms He made a careful observation of the dynamic in...

SOCI 333 -Contemporary Sociological Theory- Dr. Gbenga Adejare Paradigm Shift: Background Thomas Samuel Kuhn (1922-1996), a Havard historian and philosopher is credited for having a major influence on an inquiry into the shifting sociological paradigms He made a careful observation of the dynamic intellectual changes which was reflected in is groundbreaking work titled, The Structure of Scientific Revolution (1962). His main thesis centres the idea that everyday science is embedded within a framework or model. Scientific models are not static, old ones are sometimes replaced by new one 2 Paradigm Shift: Background cont’d But why do paradigms shift? Kuhns explicated how there are both dominant and contending paradigms in many disciplines E.g. Structural functionalism and Conflict paradigms Sociology as a discipline is historically dynamic, hence the issues the sociology interrogate are dynamic Contemporary sociology is thus a product of paradigmatic shifts While Kuhns’ work inspired expansion and simplification of sociological theories, it also attracted a lot of criticisms, especially from Karl Popper who advocated for science rooted in observation and falsification. 3 Paradigm Shift: Background cont’d STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONALISM Originators: Bronislaw Malin owski Emile Durkheim Innovators: Davis Moore Talcott Parsons Robert K. Merton CONFLICT Originators: Friedrich Engels Karl Marx Innovators: C. Wright Mills Ralf Dahrendorf SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM Originators: George Simmel Max Weber Innovators: Erving Goffman Harold Garfinkel Randall Collins 4 Paradigm of Functionalism Classical functionalism has its roots in the contributions of people like Bronislaw Malinowski, Emile Durkheim, Herbert Spencer and other. The key proposition of the revolves around functional unity/universalism, structural integration/order. The main criticism leveled against classical sociological theory was its inability to explain change or dynamics 5 Paradigm of Functionalism cont’d In their contribution to social stratification, Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore Wilbert Moore (1945) enunciated that there was no time in history when society was classless or without hierarchical structures. Social positions are related to three factors: People love good positions Some positions are more important to the survival of the society than others – the more important ones (e.g. medical doctors) should be more rewarded Different social positions require different skills In a view to address some of the criticisms leveled against early functionalist contemporary functionalists like Talcott Parsons and Robert K. Merton built on the existing paradigm. 6 Paradigm of Functionalism cont’d In their contribution to social stratification, Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore Wilbert Moore (1945) enunciated that there was no time in history when society was classless or without hierarchical structures. Social positions are related to three factors: People love good positions Some positions are more important to the survival of the society than others – the more important ones (e.g. medical doctors) should be more rewarded Different social positions require different skills In a view to address some of the criticisms leveled against early functionalist contemporary functionalists like Talcott Parsons and Robert K. Merton built on the existing paradigm. 7 Talcott Parsons (1902-1979) He was an American that spent the most part of his life in America. More than two decades after WWII, Parsons was the dominant sociological theorist figure in Anglophone countries. His intention was to unify contending sociological paradigms (conflict and functionalism) in way that both reifies the model of system and subsystems. He developed a famous scheme known as AGIL – adaptation, goal attainment, integration, and latency. 8 Talcott Parsons (1902-1979) AGIL was introduced an attempt to project how conflict is regulated in a structure through functional differentiation. ❑A – Adaption: This a mechanism through which a system adjusts itself to external threats and cope sustainably. This adaptation is a two-way street of coping with and converting to (regulating within to adapt to external forces and moderating external influences to suit the system’s needs). ❑E.g. Hybrid products, EVs 9 Talcott Parsons (1902-1979) ❑G – Goal attainment: This component of the scheme speaks to the need of every society to have a primarily defined goal (to which the system adapts). ❑E.g., every system wants to develop ❑The goal of a system can sometimes be represented through a mission statement or emblem 10 Talcott Parsons (1902-1979) ❑I – Integration: Different parts of a system continue to stay in harmony when there is a system of learning that helps to maintain internal co-ordination. ❑L – Latency (pattern maintenance): This is a subsystem that ensures collective stability at the macro level, which make it different from the function of integration. 11 Talcott Parsons (1902-1979) He sees social change taking place in form of adaptive social adjustment such the needs of the society will determine how each system will adjust and this has a consequence for the entire system. 12 Robert K. Merton (1910-2003) A student of Parsons, Merton qualified as a middle-range theorist. He was a son of immigrant parents from Eastern Europe. He favoured Marxism more in his theoretical contribution to functionalism than Parsons. He distinguished subjective motives of individuals from the functions of structures or institutions 13 Robert K. Merton (1910-2003) He developed the following ideas to rectify some of the errors of omission committed by his predecessors: Net Balance: This helps to assess the significance of a system to know whether or not the positive functions of a system outweighs its negative functions. This can underscored by looking at the levels of functional analysis 14 Robert K. Merton (1910-2003) Levels of functional analysis: This refers to the idea that functional analysis can be performed on any standardized repetitive social phenomenon, ranging from society as a whole to organizations, institutions, and groups (Merton). Functions can either be manifest or latent. It is manifest when it is recognizable as intended; it is latent when it is unintended, leading to unanticipated consequences. Think about the invention of nuclear bomb for instance 15 Robert K. Merton (1910-2003) Levels of functional analysis: This refers to the idea that functional analysis can be performed on any standardized repetitive social phenomenon, ranging from society to organizations, institutions, and groups (Merton). Functions can either be manifest or latent. It is manifest when it is recognizable as intended; it is latent when it is unintended, leading to unanticipated consequences. Think about the invention of nuclear bomb for instance 16 Reflection Questions Thomas Kuhns and Karl Popper are credible contributors to sociological theorizing. In what ways do they differ from each other? The Parsonian attempt at vindicating classical functionalism does not make the paradigm flawless in contemporary sociological analysis. Briefly explain. Critically examine the contribution of Robert K. Merton as a middle-range theorist. There are no dominant paradigms in sociology because the discipline is multivalent. True or False? 17