SOC102H1 Lecture Notes - The Sociological Imagination, Solidarity, Cultural Relativism
Document Summary
Sociology is the systematic study of human action in social context. Our relations with those around us create opportunities to think and act. But, limits us from our thoughts and actions. Scientific revolution (16th century) - theories needed to be substantiated by evidence. Democratic revolution (18th century) - human action can change society. Industrial revolution (19th century) - give the sociologist their subject matter. Sociologists identify general patterns in the behaviour of particular individuals. General categories which we happen to fall into shape our particular life experiences. Acknowledges that each individual is unique, society acts differently on various categories of people (children vs. adults, men versus women etc. ) Emile durkheim"s contribution (functionalist): end of 19th century demonstrated suicide rates were strongly influenced by social forces. Examined association between rates of suicide and rates of psychological disorder for different groups. Durkheim argued suicide rates varied as result of differences in degree of social solidarity in different categories of the population.
