SOC 1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Talcott Parsons, Auguste Comte
Document Summary
The word functionalism is derived from the word function. According to mann (1987:138) the term function is used in disciplines like biology, social sciences and mathematics. In sociology the term function was introduced by redcliff and brown to suggest that different parts of society meet societal needs and that society could be conceptualised as made up of interdependent parts in relation to each other. According to marcus and duckling (1998:29-30) the origins of functionalism as a method of approach to social issues is found in the writings of herbert spencer, emily durkheim, Emily durkheim pioneered the thought of functionalism by providing the functional analysis of society i. e. how society works. Talcott parsons identified essential aspects for the survival of social systems such as social order, social stability and value consensus (that which keeps a society together). Robert matton talked of manifest and latent functions of social institutions, functional and dysfunctional systems.
