Founders of Sociology

Auguste Comte• Coined the term “sociology”• Study social world through scientific method• Key concepts: positivism—Use scientific method for social world•Theories and work has been abandoned.

Herbert Spencer

• Structural/Functionalist• Coined the term “survival of the fittest” in reference to human social arrangements (Social Darwinism)• Advocated against social reform efforts to poor people because it disrupts the natural selection process of evolution\•Also discredited today.

MARX, WEBER, AND DURKHEIM

The Fathers of Sociology

Karl Marx

• Founder of political / economic theory of socialism (communism)• Considered the founder of the conflict perspective – Class Conflict between wealthy class and working class.• Key concepts: proletariat, bourgeoisie, capitalists, social class,

Karl Marx: Society and Conflict

He examined SOCIAL CLASS struggles

He believed the economy dominates all other aspects of society

He studied the Capitalists- owners and Proletarians- the workers

The Capitalists

According to Marx the Capitalists had a false consciousness of the problem of social class, meaning their explanations of capitalism were wrong because they did not want to admit their own shortcomings

Class Conflict

Marx embraced communism and socialism with his work the Communist Manifesto

He believed the workers should unite an revolt against capitalist

Capitalism and Alienation

Marx believed workers became alienated – the experience of isolation and misery from working in the factory and having no power

Max Weber: Rationalization of Society

He studied IDEALISM- how human ideas shape society

His thesis The Protestantism Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism proclaimed that the protestant work ethic drove capitalism and vice versa

Traditional vs. Rationality

Tradition beliefs passed down from generation to generation

He thought eventually society would move from traditional to rationality worldview

Rational view of the world is a deliberate, matter the fact calculations

Emile DurkheimSociety as a function

Durkheim believed in patterns of behavior, cultural norms, and beliefs are social facts

He believed these social facts serve as function in society. For example he believed that crime is normal and society could not exist without

Emile Durkheim’s work: Suicide

In this book Durkheim studies groups that are most likely to commit suicide

He found that those who have less solidarity are more likely commit suicide

Solidarity

Solidarity is a feeling or condition of unity based on common goals, interests, and sympathies among a group's members

Durkheim believed being connected to society was the key to a happy life

Other Sociologists

W. E. B. Dubois

• First Afro-American PhD graduate of Harvard University• Concerned with the social position of African-Americans in US society.• Wrote The Philadelphia Negro (1899) on race relations• Used statistics to examine racial discrimination against blacks

Jane Addams

• Won the first Nobel Peace Prize (1931) given to an American sociologist• Founded Hull House for the poor in Chicago• Influenced the “Chicago School” of applied sociology (social problems)• Pioneered the study of social problems