SOC 3340 Lecture Notes - Class Conflict, Critical Role
Document Summary
Opportunities for making choices were minimal in traditional societies. Today, we have too many choices and selection may not be rational. Deference to tradition created regularity in social life eg. role of women in traditional societies. Revolutions in industry and politics were transformations that brought in new social order. Industrialization and democratic reforms sparked greater individualism. The dignity and worth of human individuals were central macro level research. Some cultures may consider rough physical play to be normal. Durkheim"s response: he argued against individual rationality or social contract as a basis of society, trust had to come first. Trust comes form individuals interacting with one another. You don"t define yourself, others do: each of us speak a language that we did not invent. We think with words created by others. Mutual understanding is possible only be using a common language. Social norms were essential to providing a moral framework the basis of trust. With trust, mutual agreements can be reached.