HGA203 Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: Queer Theory, Thomas Hobbes, Psychedelic Experience
3 Jul 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Marx Weber Durkheim
Optimist??? Ambivalent
Naïve optimism
The
industrial
revolution
(1700s
onwards)
Changed economics Changed culture Changed social
organisation
View on
industrial
revolution
Necessary to overthrow
capitalism, yet bad because
of alienation and
exploitation of workers
Optimistic: (the overthrow
of capitalism would solve
all problems)- Increased
collective class
consciousness would lead
to the overthrow o
capitalism. This would
usher in a socialist utopia,
a non-class based society
Changed culture.
Mechanic >> Organic
solidarity
Resulted in anomie,
Social
change
driven by
Class conflict, driven by
economics
Culture and power. Weber
is interested in generalised
patterns of social action
The need for functional
relationships to drive
change. SOCIAL
ORGNAISATION
MATTERS!
Economics/ownership of
the means of production is
the main source of
inequality in society
*Bourgeoisie
(capitalists)
*Proletariat (workers)
Climate
change
Emphasises the power of
economic wealth to shape
society. So, the exploitation
of short term gain by the
capitalists is causing long
term environmental
implications for others.
The
Holocaust
Evidence of the destructive
potential of calculative
rationality.
This event was made
possible by bureaucracy
A failure of social
organisation.
An exceptional event in
history.
More social organisation
will prevent this from
1
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happening again.
Capitalism Necessary, but had
negative implications for
workers
Bureaucratic organisation
as a key feature of
capitalism.
Rationality as the essence
of modern capitalism
Bureaucracy Key feature of capitalist
society.
A threat to democracy.
Individuality, creativity
and individual freedom
come to be diminished
because people become
like clogs working in the
larger bureaucratic
machine.
Main
theories
Alienation
Exploitation
‘Ideal types’
Protestant work ethic
Formal/calculative
rationality: justified in
terms of efficiency,
objective, end-means
rationality, with little
thought given to process,
but rather outcomes.
(Zweckrational)
Substantive rationality:
associated with meaning,
morals and outcomes.
(Wertrational)
Value neutral sociology:
sociology must have value
relevance to be interesting
and important, but must be
carried out in an objective,
value free mannor.
Traditional authority:
authority is legitimate
because it has ‘always
existed’. Inherited power.
Eg the royal family.
Mechanic solidarity (pre-
industrial societies)
defined by a simple
division in labour.
Functions by all parts
being similar (like a
mandarin). Little sense of
individual uniqueness, yet
high degree of collective
identity.
Organic solidarity
(industrial societies)
where there is a complex
division of power.
Functions by having
different, interdependent
parts. Stronger sense of
individuality, yet weaker
identification with the
community.
Focus on society. For
Durkheim, society lives
and breathes within the
individual. One cannot be
separated from ones self.
Homo-duplex: humans
struggling between bodily
2
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Legal authority:
appointed or elected
positions. Eg Prime
Minister
Charismatic authority:
based on the charisma of
the leader. Power because
of unique qualities .
eg………
Bureaucracy:
Bureaucracy is considered
to be the embodiment of
calculative rationality.
Ideal type of
bureaucracy:
PERISH
Professionalism
Expertise
Rules
Impersonal
Specialisation
Hierarchy
Irrationality of
rationality (iron cage)
impulses and morality and
intellectual needs.
Social organisation matters
most
Structure/a
gency
Structure more important,
focuses on big picture
structures of society such
as the workplace
Both structure and agency
are important.
Culture connects structure
and agency. Culture is the
key to understanding
social action.
Structuralist.
Social structures are
primary. Individuals,
economics, culture are
secondary.
Power Is escapable. Inevitable and inescapable.
Power is articulated
through legitimate us of
violence by the state and
bureaucracy
Socialisation
3
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Document Summary
Weber is interested in generalised patterns of social action. The need for functional relationships to drive change. Necessary to overthrow capitalism, yet bad because of alienation and exploitation of workers. Optimistic: (the overthrow of capitalism would solve all problems)- increased collective class consciousness would lead to the overthrow o capitalism. This would usher in a socialist utopia, a non-class based society. Economics/ownership of the means of production is the main source of inequality in society. Emphasises the power of economic wealth to shape society. So, the exploitation of short term gain by the capitalists is causing long term environmental implications for others. Evidence of the destructive potential of calculative rationality. Bureaucratic organisation as a key feature of capitalism. happening again. Individuality, creativity and individual freedom come to be diminished because people become like clogs working in the larger bureaucratic machine. Formal/calculative rationality: justified in terms of efficiency, objective, end-means rationality, with little thought given to process, but rather outcomes. (zweckrational)
