SOAN 2112 Lecture Notes - Ideal Type, Historical Sociology, Nomothetic

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Sociology and Anthropology
• Course: SOAN 2112
• Professor: Linda Hunter

Document Summary

Craib: the tool we use to understand social events and processes using interpretive understanding. Does not exist in reality. (called a hypothetical construct the most rational form of bureaucracy that we can imagine is the ideal type ) the most rational form of a bureaucracy that we can imagine. Analytic construct a measuring rod to ascertain similarities. Marx and weber the importance of history: both recognized that an adequate explanation of social facts really requires a historical account you have to understand history of society comparisons that need to be made. Empiricism, general laws, causal explanation, unity of natural and social sciences, ethical neutrality: weber did not think you could have ethical issues and subjective approaches (??) Weber is more pessimistic of how society is going to turn out. Positivist/subjectivists: positivistic- nomothetic, subjectivists idiosyncratic point of view, micro. General laws cannot explain historically specific social, political, or religious movements.