CC100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Social Science, Proletariat, Crime Prevention
Document Summary
Positivism represents a shift from theorizing or philosophizing to a more rigorous, hands on scientific enterprise. Positivism promotes the systematic study of existing social problems e. g to classify, qualify, and record facts. Social scientists are meant to be neutral observers (value-free) Has two major approaches within positivism: biological, psychological. Consolidation of capitalism and capitalist mode of production. Entrenchment of mass industrial production (rather than agriculture) Growth of the labour movements, working class, or proletariat as a distinct class (working class) Harsh living and working conditions (child labour) The influence of science and technology was immense. The methods and concepts of science were being applied to the study of society. Positivism is the belief that society is progressing ever forward, and that the social scientist can understand how society works and ultimately overcome social ills by using scientific methods. Darwin"s theory of evolution was mis-appropriated to:
