Understanding Sociology: Key Concepts and Perspectives

Item 1

• Sociology is the systematic study of human societies, paying special attention to modern industrial systems.
• The practice of sociology involves the ability to think imaginatively and to distance oneself from preconceived ideas about social relations.
• Sociology has important practical consequences. It can contribute to the critical and practical reform of society. A better understanding of social circumstances often provides more possibilities for control and enhances cultural sensitivity.
• Sociology is an attempt to understand the momentous changes in human societies in recent centuries. These changes were not only large-scale but also affected intimate and personal aspects of life.
• The classical founders of sociology are:
  • Auguste Comte: French philosopher who coined the term "sociology" and positivism, emphasizing that science should focus on observable entities known through experience.
  • Karl Marx: Focused on economic issues connected to social institutions, particularly capitalism and class struggle. Key elements of capitalism include capital and wage labor.
  • Émile Durkheim: French sociologist who believed social life could be analyzed with the same rigor as natural phenomena.

Topics include the importance of sociology as an empirical science, the rise of the individual and the formation of a new social order, and the sources and nature of moral authority in society. Key concepts include studies of social facts: ways of acting, thinking, or feeling that are external to individuals and have a reality outside their own lives and perceptions.

• Max Weber: German sociologist who addressed a number of disciplines, including sociology. He sought to understand the nature and causes of social change, focusing on "social action" and the concept of the ideal type. His work streamlined and expanded upon Marx's ideas.

Symbolic interactionism: Arises from a concern for language and meaning. Language makes us self-conscious, aware of our own individuality, and able to see ourselves from an external perspective. The key element is the symbol, which represents something else. Mead indicates that we use symbols in our interactions with others, engaging in an exchange of symbols in almost every interaction.

More recent sociological perspectives (especially after World War II):

• Functionalism: Views society as a complex system whose various parts work together to generate stability and solidarity. Influenced by Comte and Durkheim, it uses an organic analogy, suggesting that parts of society work together for the benefit of the whole.
• Conflict Theory: Emphasizes the social importance of divisions, power, inequality, and struggle. It examines the social tensions that occur between dominant groups and the disadvantaged. Influenced by Marx and Weber, particularly Ralf Dahrendorf, it posits that conflict arises from the different interests of individuals and groups.
• Social Action Theory: Developed by Mead and Weber, it emphasizes that sociology should grasp the meaning of action and social interaction through symbolic interactionism.