SOCI 302 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Rodney King, Viral Video, Sociobiology
Document Summary
The role of theory: underlying purpose of theory is to go beyond explaining the social universe in order to change + improve it. Key question: do areas of ethnic + racial inequality require separate theory: answer: no, part of overarching societal processes - do not need specific theory. Primordialism & socio-biology: groups of people = "naturally" drawn towards individuals w/ biological ties & shared genetic material, people have inherent predisposition towards favouring people with biological connections/shared genetics, protecting your kinship - propagating genes, natural selection. Racism + ethnocentrism: evolutionary & genetic in origin: van den berge (1987) ethnocentrism linked to evolutionary/genetic origin, not culturally constituted (more explanation?) Introduction of study race + ethnicity to sociology: william thomas (theories of cultural pluralism, advocate for cultural pluralism, key figure in sociological study of ethnicity + race. Idea close to multiculturalism: robert park (theories of assimilation)
