Sociology 2240E Lecture : Unit 2.docx
10 Dec 2013
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2 elements influencing classical soc theory: a) enlightenment, b) romantic conservative reaction to enlightenment sociology born from turmoil of french revolution. All intellectual fields shaped by social setting. France pop"n 23million: 1000 kings/queens, 1 milion bourgeois, 21. 4 million peasants. 1789 french revolution: ppl fed up w/ monarchy, time of upheaval, overthrew monarchy to create constitution run by the ppl. 1810-1815 neapolitan bourgeoisie govn"t given more political power. Enlightenment: philosophy of new ideas of justice. Philosophers began rationalizing neapolitian"s action (restoration of order) 2 most prominent thinkers assoc"d w/ enlightenment: charles montesquieu and jean jacques rousseau indirect and negative influence on social theory. 17c influences on thinkers of enlightenment: a) rational philosophy (descartes, b) empirical philosophy and science (galileo, bacon, locke) One goal of enlightenment to bring these ideas together. Philosophical generalization emphasis on producing abstract systems of ideas making rational sense later philosophers made greater efforts to derive ideas from real world and test them.
