SOCI 1002H Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Mechanical And Organic Solidarity, Public Sphere, Private Sphere
14 Jun 2018
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Lecture 2
Chapter 22: What use is social Theory?
Intentions of social theory:
• Rational understanding of how societies work
• Testable theories
• Help individuals achieve freedom
Paradox: theory can enable lack of freedom
• Reinforcing social structures
• Augment power of the state
• Ex. criminal justice system or welfare state
What is social theory?
• What is, what will be, and what should be
• Answered through empirical research: collection of data
• Triangulation to get around bias
• Data, field work, live interaction
• Anecdotal: person who goes against what theory is trying to prove
Case Study: Theorizing the Nation State
• What is the state?
• Where did it come from and why?
• How does it control you?
Answers to these depend on what kind of sociologist you are
Role of the state:
• Organizing structure of complex advanced societies (functionalist, neutral state)
• War, public safety, economy, rule of law, education, health care
• Durkheim: organic solidarity vs. mechanical solidarity
• Social control
• Sole source of right to use violence
• Creation and enforcement of law
State (families, elected governments, criminal justice system, economy, health care, military,
education system)
Welfare State (1940s-1980s)
Liberalism (1700s-1900s)
• Early capitalism; end of Feudalism; rise of secularization; and individualism against
central authority
Neoliberalism (1990s-present)
• Modern capitalism: global market expansion and no regulation of market; no society only
individual
Private sphere (accumulation and control of wealth)
Public sphere (poverty, pollution, unemployment, crime, dissent, activism) *consequence of
inequality)
Both (law, military, prisons, hospitals, schools)
Indigenous community has highest birth rate in Canada (future workers)
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Intentions of social theory: rational understanding of how societies work, testable theories, help individuals achieve freedom. Paradox: theory can enable lack of freedom: reinforcing social structures, augment power of the state, ex. criminal justice system or welfare state. Answers to these depend on what kind of sociologist you are. State (families, elected governments, criminal justice system, economy, health care, military, education system) Liberalism (1700s-1900s: early capitalism; end of feudalism; rise of secularization; and individualism against central authority. Neoliberalism (1990s-present: modern capitalism: global market expansion and no regulation of market; no society only individual. Public sphere (poverty, pollution, unemployment, crime, dissent, activism) *consequence of inequality) Indigenous community has highest birth rate in canada (future workers) Problems with theory: social engineering (assimilation, lack of solutions rather on analysis of data. Inaccurate theory: classical theory vs. contemporary theory: limitations of truth. Postmodernism: no absolute or universal truth: knowledge as contingent, e. g. sexuality, legal meaning: disease, crime, rights, truth claims rather than absolute truth.
