SOC 3310 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Talcott Parsons, Meritocracy, Social Inequality
6 Oct 2016
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Multiple choice and an essay question 4 possible essay questions will be posted beforehand. Almost everything that we do is guided by norms. Pattern variables norms that guide our actions. Norms in pre-modern societies: (based on sense of community, loyalty, familial relationships: affectivity. Personal: feelings/emotional loyalty, friendship, family, etc. Attributes people are not equal in the sense of ascription determines hierarchy. Sacrifices must be made in the interest of the greater good. *seen as unproductive and an obstacle to business in modern society seen as irrational. Norms in modern societies: (instrumental, merit/performance, no emotions, impersonal: affective neutrality. Performance these 2 indicate your position in the social hierarchy. Justice and fairness/unfairness these pre-modern/modern norms are what we presuppose: a just and fair society is the society based around the principles of modern norms, equality = equality of human dignity (not just physical equality)
