SOC 103 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Harmony Society, Anomie
Document Summary
A living organism is composed of many parts: the brain, the heart, the lungs, the liver etc; Just like the human body, not all parts are equal in value. But all are important to the health of the body. Similarly, institutions are important to the health of society. Just as each part of the body has a functions, each part of society also has a purpose for its existence. The manifest function is the intended purpose. The manifest function of the school system is to train children for jobs. The manifest function of the justice system is to catch, punish and rehabilitate criminals. The manifest function of the family is to produce and nurture children. The education system: teaches and trains children for life and employment: schools are reinforce societal norms and values, schools also sort individuals based on ability and matches children to jobs that best suit their abilities. Organized religion supports the social system as well.
