SOCC40H3 Lecture : Lecture 1
Document Summary
Was the towering giant of all of sociology and sociological theory from 30s-60. Everyone else defined themselves in reference to parsons. Can"t understand anything else without understanding him: was the first person to translate weber into english and brought durkheim to. Parsons turned them into classics: his style of theorizing was a very synthetic approach, wanted framework for studying human action in general. The kind of patterns he tried to find were normative patterns; made up something called pattern barrier: tried to understand functions; why it came to be known as structural functions. Burton: was one of parson"s students, critique of parson"s in a friendly way, came to be great figure of mid-century sociology, devised understanding of sociological theory that was more fruitful. Parsons was more interested in developing general theory of social system: manifest vs. latent function. Idea of self-fulfilling prophecy; false ideas become true because people believe them.
