SOC 505 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Social Theory, Social Fact, Protestant Work Ethic

• School: Ryerson University
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOC 505
• Professor: Dr. Stephen Sheps

Document Summary

It(cid:859)s a discourse encompassing a group of abstract concepts and signs linked together through reasoned/logical argument. It seeks to understand the nature of these elements and how they relate to each other, and to society as a whole. Social theorists make themselves familiar with pre-existing descriptions and i(cid:374)terpretatio(cid:374)s of so(cid:272)ial life a(cid:374)d so(cid:272)iet(cid:455), (cid:271)(cid:455) (cid:271)oth i(cid:374)telle(cid:272)tuals a(cid:374)d (cid:271)(cid:455) (cid:862)ordi(cid:374)ar(cid:455) people(cid:863). They observe social interactions with self and others in small and large groups and examine social institutions. What has social theory look at: events, people (individuals, groups, classes) It allows us to think differently, make judgements, understand events, and construct arguments. Marx: hu(cid:373)a(cid:374) ideas do(cid:374)(cid:859)t (cid:373)ake the so(cid:272)ial (cid:449)orld, the material and social world makes humans. Industrial capitalist society is structured by conflicts between two antagonistic groups. Ideas do(cid:374)(cid:859)t dri(cid:448)e histor(cid:455), (cid:271)ut (cid:272)o(cid:374)fli(cid:272)ts a(cid:374)d (cid:272)o(cid:374)tradi(cid:272)tio(cid:374)s i(cid:374) a(cid:374)d (cid:271)et(cid:449)ee(cid:374) (cid:373)odes of productions (change is the driver of history). Origins of sociology: two main historical elements of the discipline: