Sociology and Social Change - 6068 Words

SOCIOLOGY AND SOCIAL CHANGE The air does not cease to have weight, writes Durkheim, although we no longer feel that weight.(1) The point is, of course, how do we know that there is that thing called air out there if we do not feel its presence? What Durkheim was interested to show, indeed, was that those elements of reality that he came to call social facts(2) were out there, regardless of whether the individuals felt their presence or not. Actually, the individuals are almost never aware of the compelling presence of those social facts, which they have a tendency to take for granted. Sometimes, however, social facts appear unmistakably to the individual who is not even trained sociologically to discover that which is not so†¦show more content†¦Before long, society ceased to be the main object of study of American sociology, and its place was successfully claimed by community studies and analyses of small groups. When microsociology finally dominated the scene, there was li ttle room left for the analysis of social change -a macrosociological concern. Interestingly, the propositions formulated by American microsociology were meant to be true in any human society, regardless of the level of development. Humans being human, this microsociological perspective seemed to propose, one needs to describe human nature to be able to predict and explain the process of human interaction. To the extent that human nature was assumed to be immutable and universal, the logic went on, its study can be successfully completed within the boundaries of the well-analyzed American society. There was thus little need for cross cultural or international studies. These tendencies of the American sociology were part of the American cultures isolationist orientation that was prevalent between the 20th Centurys two World Wars. The role that the United States was to perform at the end of World War II, however, brought an end to the isolationist tendencies of the American culture. N ot only did Americans have to acknowledge the existence of a World outside their borders, but their country was supposed to lead the capitalist world into the Cold War and beyond. Within sociology, this necessaryShow MoreRelatedSociology and Social Change6058 Words   |  25 PagesSOCIOLOGY AND SOCIAL CHANGE    The air does not cease to have weight, writes Durkheim, although we no longer feel that weight.(1) The point is, of course, how do we know that there is that thing called air out there if we do not feel its presence? What Durkheim was interested to show, indeed, was that those elements of reality that he came to call social facts(2) were out there, regardless of whether the individuals felt their presence or not. Actually, the individuals are almost never awareRead Morefactors that contributed to the rise and development of sociology1511 Words   |  7 Pagescontributed to the rise of sociology and the latter`s development. In simply terms, sociology is the scientific study of the society and human behavior. The emergence of sociology traces back to the eighteenth century up to present day. Johnson (1998) suggests that in summary, the rise and development of sociology is based on political, economic, demographic, social and scientific changes. Ritzer (2008) asserts that the immediate cause for the beginning of sociology were political unrests especiallyRead MoreSociology : How Human Action And Consciousness Shape The Surrounding Of Cultural And Social Culture1734 Words   |  7 Pagessaid, â€Å"The task for sociology is to come to the help of the individual. We have to be in service of freedom. It is something we have lost sight of.† This quote means the main purpose of sociology is to help people with our freedom of service, because it is something we as people lost sight of. Sociology can be defined by Dictionary.com, as the science or study of the origin, development, organization, and functioning of human society; the science of the fundamental laws of social relations, and institutionsRead MoreThe Importance of Studying Sociology1106 Words   |  4 PagesThe study of Sociology helps us to understand the human social relationships, why we are as we are and why we act as we do. Today’s world is a comple x place, as the world continues to change and bring new ways to living with and relating to others new problems in society appeared. Sociology has a great importance as is the best approach to understand the social phenomena. The study of sociology includes the study of social behaviour and social change which can reveal how society shapes our livesRead MoreThe Relationship Between Public Sociology And The Tradition Of Positivism913 Words   |  4 Pagesbetween public sociology to the tradition of Positivism. Historically, Positivistic Theory is based on a strict adherence to the scientific aspects of economy and materialism, which seek to analyze society in terms of the physicality of culture and social phenomenon. These traditions stem from the growth of scientific thought and economic analysis found in Marxism, and other ideologies that analyze the material qualities of a culture. In this manner, the growth of Public Sociology is an importantRead MoreSociology : Social Relations hip, Development And Function Of Human Society986 Words   |  4 PagesSociology is the study of social relationship, development and function of human society. Throughout the course of sociology you can lean many things about your society and even your self. Sociology will change the way you look at life and might be able to reflect on future designs or ideas. When enrolling in sociology you will be able to have a set of skills to see sociology, have the knowledge of sociology, and have values of sociology. By having skills, knowledge, and values you will be able understandRead MoreSociology: The Study of Humanity Essay1480 Words   |  6 PagesHowever new you are to sociology it is probable that you have an idea, however vague and general, regarding what sociology is supposed to be about. It may be that you have an idea that sociology is about people. And you would be right to think so. We might start then by noting that sociology is one of the human sciences and as such it is a subject to be distinguished from the so-called physical sciences. Sociology is the study of humanity. However this description of sociology is only partiallyRead MoreSociology : Sociological And Scientific Study Of Human Behavior And Social Interaction1037 Words   |  5 PagesGiven the many theories and ideas that have influenced the development of sociology, it is possible to misunderstand what sociology truly means. As humanity enters into the 21st century, the study of society has become more relevant than ever. In this day and age where everybody is part of a society, it is crucial to understand the social dynamics invisible to the naked eye. Sociology provides critical insight into what problems our world currently faces and what we can do to prevent further problemsRead MoreWhat Is Sociology?1062 Words   |  5 PagesWhat is sociology? We can start by saying that sociology is the systematic study of human society. Sociology should be more than you find in a good documentary on a social issue. It is certainly more than listings of facts and figures about society. Instead it becomes a form of consciousness a way of thinking, a critical way of seeing the social. Seeing the general in the particular. In his short book ‘Invitation to Sociology’(1963) characterized the sociological perspective as seeing the generalRead MoreEssay on John J. Coakley on the Sociology of Sport1056 Words   |  5 Pagesact different around other friends? Sociology is the study of these and other social behaviors and how people interact with others in groups. The sociology of sport is seen as a subdivision of sociology where the main focus is on the relationship between society and sport. There are many ways to analyze the sociology of sport. One way is to look behind what society sees as real to see if things are really as they seem. Another way to analyze the sociology of sport is to objectively look at other