SY101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Talcott Parsons, Friedrich Engels, Tabula Rasa
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Introduction: how to explain humanity in a macro sense, who are we, what makes us intelligent beings, why do we live the way we do. Natural state : brutal existence of competition and fear. Man is corrupt and motivated by self- interest and pursuit of power. Role of gov: to preserve the individual(cid:859)s ability to achieve self-interests. Sociological contribution: individuals are building blocks of society. What both have in common both believed ppl were responsible for society if the state fails to provide for the collective needs then it should be overthrown. Tabula rosa : blank slate no knowledge independent of experience. Sociological contribution: advocacy of individual freedom and autonomy: hobbes believed that man was corrupt and dark, other noteworthy philosophers. Jean-jacques rousseau: believed that we need to build a society that most closely resembles our primitive condition. Saw ppl existing in symbiotic and idyllic relationships based on equality.
