SOC 111 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: John Bellamy Foster, George Herbert Mead, Herbert Blumer
Document Summary
Sociology: our lives are affected not only by individual experiences, but also by powerful social forces and our place in the social world. Sociological imagination: the ability to understand how social forces influence the lives of individuals. Criticisms: doesn"t acknowledge power and wealth of people in society, doesn"t explain change very well. A struggle for scarce resources: karl marx: bourgeoisie, petite bourgeoisie, and proletariat; false consciousness (unaware) vs. class consciousness (aware); critiqued capitalism, wanted communism, w. e. b. Du bois: studied race; double consciousness (african americans had to live among both whites (where they were 2nd class) and blacks (where they were equals: ralf darendorf: social factors divide people into groups (e. g. celebrities) John bellamy foster: business" pursuit of wealth has created problems like poverty, inequality, pollution, and poor work conditions. Criticisms: conflict can sometimes lead to a positive outcome. Thomas theorem: situations that are defined as real are real in their consequences.
