SOC 370- Introduction to Sociological Theory
Fall Semester 2010
GFS 101
TTh 9:30-11:00AM
Instructor- Dr. Edward Flores
Office: KAP 364F
Office Hours: M/W 9-10am, T/Th 11-12pm.
Office Phone:
Course Objective
In this course we will examine the classical foundations of sociology, as well as 20th century developments that led to a myriad of perspectives in the discipline; we will end by theorizing the significance of sociology’s expanding boundaries. This approach will help us develop an understanding of theory that is multicultural.
What comprises theory, and what theory does to help us understand social behavior, have been questions that have led to lively debates. To study sociology, one must first study the early foundations of sociology, and how they have been challenged through the decades. We will begin by reading Marx, Weber and Durkheim, continue through with the Chicago school of sociology, and finish with readings sensitive to race/class/gender, and theory from “post-colonial” writers. We will read selected texts from these theorists in order to examine a wide variety of perspectives.
We will draw from our readings in thinking through contemporary social issues. Doing this will allow us to think about the relationship between theory, and the context from which it emerges. Discussion of each reading is open to what students in class feel comfortable with- there is much flexibility in thinking through theory, not least of which is lived experience. By approaching theory in this way, we will avoid the pitfall of engaging with sociological theory “objectively” from a top-down “God’s eye view” that ignores context and bias.
Books
The required books for the course are:
Lemert, Charles. (2009). Social Theory: The Multicultural and Classic Readings (Edition 4). Westview Press. ISBN: 0813343925
DeTocqueville, Alexis. (2000). Democracy In America. Harper Perennial Modern Classics. ISBN: 9780060956660.
Course Requirements
Class Structure & Participation
Our class will have a different structure than most. At the beginning of every class, we will begin with a short, student-led presentation on the day’s particular reading(s). I will follow this by guiding a lengthy student discussion. At the end of class, I will give a lecture introducing the following week’s topics. I do this because I believe that if my lectures precede the following class’ readings, then students will have a better grasp of the material preparing for class.
Quizzes
Quizzes will be administered during the first 5-10 minutes of each class. Although everyone receives full credit for simply taking a quiz, quizzes will reveal where some students may have strengths or weaknesses in understanding particular readings. Quizzes cannot be made up, so tardiness and absences will detrimentally affect a students’ grade. Please notify me in advance if you cannot make it to class.
Paper I: Classical Theory Paper
You will write a theoretical paper about a classical theorist of your choice. The theoretical paper is a short, but concise, explanation of the major ideas of a theorist we covered in class. If you wish, you can draw from academic journal book reviews, as long as you properly cite your sources.
Paper II: Contemporary Theory Paper
The contemporary theory paper will require that you situate a contemporary theorist’s ideas within a broader legacy of sociological theory. Examples could include framing contemporary readings on race and class within Karl Marx or W.E.B. Dubois’ writings, or describing how Jane Adams’ work fits within Alexis DeTocqueville’sideas of civic life in America. For this project, you have the option of choosing to cite academic sources to substantiate your claims or illustrate your ideas.
Final Exam
The final exam will consist of multiple-choice questions, key terms, and two short essay questions.
Grading
Grades for the class will be weighted as follows:
Class attendance- 10%
Participation- 10%
Classical Theory Paper- 20%
Contemporary Theory Paper- 30%
Final Exam- 30%
The final grade will follow this scale:
A100-93
A-90-92
B+87-89
B83-86
B-80-82
C+77-79
C73-76
C-70-72
D+67-69
D63-67
D-60-62
Class Policies
Etiquette
As with any class, I expect students to behave in a courteous and respectful manner. Talking with other students during class will not be tolerated. Much of the process of intellectual growth takes place during class discussions, and this is not possible without an open environment in which to share ideas.
Electronic Devices
Cell phones should be turned completely off at the beginning of class. Using a computer to surf the internet will not be allowed. These behaviors distract everyone from the process of learning. I will deduct points from one’s attendance & participation if I feel distractions are occurring.
Late Policy
Students should arrive on time to class, everday. If you cannot attend on a particular day, please notify me, in person, prior to your absence. I will accept written documentation (i.e. doctor’s note, etc.) in the rare event that an unforseen emergency occurs.
Communication
It is the student’s responsibility to frequently check his/her e-mail or Blackboard for any class communications. Do not contact me last minute about missing class, or to ask questions about assignments. I encourage you to notify me of any questions or time conflicts well ahead of time, and to get started or turn in assignments in advance, in order to prevent any last-miunte miscommunication.
Academic Integrity
I expect students to act in accordance with USC’s honor code. The USC- Undergraduate Student Government (USG) website declares, “When USC confers a degree, it is acknowledging students’ academic success and their ability to be positive, honest, and outstanding citizens within society. In failing to uphold academic standard, students cheat themselves and others out of learning, degrade the value of their education, and diminish the prestige of USC.” When in doubt, check the following link:
The Classical Foundations of Sociology (Weeks 1-4)
How did the discipline of sociology first arise? What social changes occurred? How did these shape early conceptualizations in the field?
Week 1: Introduction, Marx and Engels
Our first reading is Marx and Engels’ Communist Manifesto. What economic patterns were they describing? What were they predicting? How did these economic changes relate to work and social life? How were these processes global?
Tuesday, August 24
Class Introduction
Thursday, August 26
Marx, Karl and Frederich Engels. (1848). Manifesto of the Communist Party. (Blackboard PDF) Pp. 14-27 and 56-57.
Week 2: DeTocqueville
The next major theoretical writings we will delve into are from Alexis DeTocqueville, who compared social life in America with social life in France. What broad differences did DeTocqueville find between America and France? How was this organized by civic engagement? How did this shape the boundaries of religious life? How was each country’s social relations rooted in their colonial past?
Tuesday, August 31
DeTocqueville, Alexis. (1835). Democracy in America. Pp.
Thursday, September 2
DeTocqueville, Alexis. (1835). Democracy in America. Pp.
Week 3: Marx, Engels and Weber
This week we will examine Marx and Engels’ ideas more in-depth, as well as become introduced with the writings of Max Weber. How did Marx describe the effect of work on the human condition? How readily could this condition be understood? How did Marx and Engels frame their arguments? Our readings will lead into Max Weber’s conceptualization of modern life. How did Weber describe the shift from feudal to industrial society? What fundamental social changes undergirded this shift? Does Weber’s idea of the “iron cage” of modernity still apply today? How?
Tuesday, September 7
Marx, Karl. (2009). “Estranged Labour,” in Charles Lemert (ed.) Social Theory:
The Multicultural and Classic Readings. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Pp. 31-38
Marx, Karl. (2009). “Camera Obscura,” in Charles Lemert (ed.) Social Theory:
The Multicultural and Classic Readings. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Pp. 38-39
Marx, Karl. (2009). “On Imperialism in India,” in Charles Lemert (ed.) Social Theory: The Multicultural and Classic Readings. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Pp. 50-51
Engels, Frederich. (2009). “The Patriarchal Family,” in Charles Lemert (ed.) Social Theory: The Multicultural and Classic Readings. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Pp. 67-70
Thursday, September 9
Weber, Max. (2009). “The Spirit of Capitalism and the Iron Cage.” in Charles Lemert (ed.) Social Theory: The Multicultural and Classic Readings. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Pp. 103-108
Weber, Max. (2009). “The Bureaucratic Machine.” in Charles Lemert (ed.) Social Theory: The Multicultural and Classic Readings. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Pp. 108-114
Weber, Max. (2009). “The Types of Legitimate Domination.” in Charles Lemert (ed.) Social Theory: The Multicultural and Classic Readings. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Pp. 116-119
Weber, Max. (2009). “Class, Status and Party.” in Charles Lemert (ed.) Social Theory: The Multicultural and Classic Readings. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Pp. 119-129
Week 4: Durkheim
Last week we read about alienation and modernity. Is that all there is to life after the feudal era? What holds social life together, according to Emile Durkheim? How is social cohesion conceptualized, and how do these practices coalesce in social gatherings? How does Durkheim’s work inform what we have read thus far? How could you see it applied today?
Tuesday, September 14
Durkheim, Emile. (2009). “Anomie and the Modern Division of Labor,” in Charles Lemert (ed.) Social Theory: The Multicultural and Classic Readings. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Pp. 77-78
Durkheim, Emile. (2009). “Sociology and Social Facts,” in Charles Lemert (ed.) Social Theory: The Multicultural and Classic Readings. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Pp. 78-81
Durkheim, Emile. (2009). “Suicide and Modernity,” in Charles Lemert (ed.) Social Theory: The Multicultural and Classic Readings. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Pp. 81-89
Thursday, September 16
Durkheim, Emile. (2009). “Primitive Classifications and Social Knowledge,” in Charles Lemert (ed.) Social Theory: The Multicultural and Classic Readings. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Pp. 89-94
Durkheim, Emile. (2009). “The Cultural Logic of Collective Representations,” in Charles Lemert (ed.) Social Theory: The Multicultural and Classic Readings. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Pp. 94-103
Early-Mid 20th Century Social Theorists (Weeks 5-9)
How did Marx’s intellectual influence continue in the 20th century? How were his anticipations of a revolution compromised? What new directions did social thought take following the World Wars, the Great Depression, the expansion of civil rights, and social movements in the colonized world?
Week 5: Adams, Lenin and Keynes
Marx envisioned a working class revolution to wipe away class inequality. How did Adams, Lenin and Keynes envision reforms to the widening class structure of modern societies?
Tuesday, September 21
Adams, Jane. (2009). “The Settlement as a Factor in the Labor Movement,” in Charles Lemert (ed.) Social Theory: The Multicultural and Classic Readings. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Pp. 70-72
Lenin, Vladimir Ilyich. (2009). in Charles Lemert (ed.) Social Theory: The Multicultural and Classic Readings. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Pp. 215-217
Thursday, September 23
Keynes, John Maynard. (2009). “The Psychology of Modern Society,” in Charles Lemert (ed.) Social Theory: The Multicultural and Classic Readings. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Pp. 203-205
Keynes, John Maynard. (2009). “The New Liberalism,” in Charles Lemert (ed.) Social Theory: The Multicultural and Classic Readings. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Pp. 205-206
Week 6: Gramsci and Dubois
According to Gramsci, why did Marxist movements fail? What cultural process can we conceptualize as being counterproductive to working-class organizing? In contrast, how were Dubois’ ideas initially presented as differing from traditional Marxist thought? How was it reflective of Weber’s concern with a “master status?” How did Dubois’ ideas reveal a greater Marxist influence over time?
Tuesday, September 28
Gramsci, Antonio. (2009). “Intellectuals and Hegemony,” in Charles Lemert (ed.) Social Theory: The Multicultural and Classic Readings. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Pp. 263-265
Thursday, September 30
Dubois, W.E.B. (2009). “Double-Consciousness and the Veil,” in Charles Lemert (ed.) Social Theory: The Multicultural and Classic Readings. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Pp. 166-172
Dubois, W.E.B. (2009). “Manifesto of the Pan African Congress.” (Blackboard).
Week 7: The Chicago School, Social Ecology
How did Chicago school scholars conceptualize the relationship between industrialization and social inequality? How did this affect social relationships? How does this relate to Durkheim’s concept of “collective effervescence”?
Tuesday, October 5
*Classical Theory Paper Due*
Thursday, October 7
Merton, Robert K. (2009) “Social Structure and Anomie,” in Charles Lemert (ed.) Social Theory: The Multicultural and Classic Readings. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Pp.
“Thomas, William I. and Florian Znaniecki. (2009). “Disorganization of the Polish Immigrant,” in Charles Lemert (ed.) Social Theory: The Multicultural and Classic Readings. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Pp.
Thrasher, Frederic. (2009). “Personality and Status within the Gang,” in Charles Lemert (ed.) Social Theory: The Multicultural and Classic Readings. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Pp.
Week 8: Micro-Sociological Perspectives
This week we will take a turn away from the large-scale macro-structural frameworks discussed in previous weeks, and turn our attention towards micro level sociological theories. Although Freud is widely regarded as a psychologist, many of his ideas help us to understand social interaction. How did Mead’s concept of the “self, the I, and the me” characterize social relations? How did Freud’s concept of the id and the ego relate to this?
Tuesday, October 12
Freud, Sigmund. (2009). Various readings in Charles Lemert (ed.) Social Theory: The Multicultural and Classic Readings. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Pp. 129-151
Thursday, October 14
Mead, George Herbert. (2009). “The Self, the I, and the Me.” in Charles Lemert (ed.) Social Theory: The Multicultural and Classic Readings. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Pp. 224-229
Erikson, Erik. (2009). “Youth and American Identity,” in Charles Lemert (ed.) Social Theory: The Multicultural and Classic Readings. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Pp. 334-337
Goffman, Erving. (2009). “On Face-Work,” in Charles Lemert (ed.) Social Theory: The Multicultural and Classic Readings. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Pp. 337-342
Week 9: Social Structure and Systems
Last week we examined how social relations are structured by interpersonal interactions. How did sociologists perceive this to be shaped by larger structures? How did they understand social inequality, difference, and even deviance, to exist within larger, but tightly bound structures?
Tuesday, October 19
Parsons, Talcott. (2009). “Action Systems and Social Systems,” in Charles Lemert (ed.) Social Theory: The Multicultural and Classic Readings. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Pp. 212-215
Parsons, Talcott. (2009). “Sex Roles in the American Kinship System,” in Charles Lemert (ed.) Social Theory: The Multicultural and Classic Readings. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Pp. 300-307
Thursday, October 21
Merton, Robert K. (2009). “Manifest and Latent Functions,” in Charles Lemert (ed.) Social Theory: The Multicultural and Classic Readings. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Pp. 307-312
Strauss, Levi. (2009). “The Structural Study of Myth,” in Charles Lemert (ed.) Social Theory: The Multicultural and Classic Readings. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Pp. 312-317
Late 20th Century Social Thought (Weeks 10-15)
The first half of the history of sociology is one marked by a great tendency to centralize meaning into large, abstract categories. How did developments in late 20th century social thought challenge these broad understandings? How were these discourses informed by, and in turn how did they inform, social changes, such as the feminist movement?
Week 10: Expanding the Boundaries of Sociological Theory
Tuesday, October 26
Mills, C. Wright. (2009). “The Sociological Imagination,” in Charles Lemert (ed.) Social Theory: The Multicultural and Classic Readings. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Pp. 354-358
Derrida, Jacques. (2009). “The Decentering Event in Social Thought,” in Charles Lemert (ed.) Social Theory: The Multicultural and Classic Readings. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Pp. 413-417
Thursday, October 28
Beauvoir, Simone. (2009). “Women as Other,” in Charles Lemert (ed.) Social Theory: The Multicultural and Classic Readings. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Pp. 345-348
Friedan, Betty. (2009). “The Problem That Has No Name,” in Charles Lemert (ed.) Social Theory: The Multicultural and Classic Readings. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Pp. 361-364
Week 11: Expanding the Boundaries of Sociological Theory (cont’d)
This week continues the theme started by the previous week; we will continue examining how late 20th century social thought challenged broad discourses and centralized understandings. How was social thought informed by rights movements in America and abroad? How did these changes to social thought discourse influence the direction of social inquiry? Did social theorists extend the tendency to question social construction too far? Why or why not?
Tuesday, November 2
Fanon, Franz. (2009). “Decolonizing, National Culture, and the Negro Intellectual,” in Charles Lemert (ed.) Social Theory: The Multicultural and Classic Readings. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Pp. 364-370
Niebuhr, Reinhold. (2009). “Moral Man and Immoral Society,” in Charles Lemert (ed.) Social Theory: The Multicultural and Classic Readings. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Pp. 247-248
King, Martin Luther. (2009). “The Power of Nonviolent Action,” in Charles Lemert (ed.) Social Theory: The Multicultural and Classic Readings. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Pp. 350-354
Thursday, November 4
Lyotard, Jean-Francois. (2009). “The Postmodern Condition,” in Charles Lemert (ed.) Social Theory: The Multicultural and Classic Readings. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Pp. 465-468
Baudrillard, Jeane. (2009). “Simulacra and Simulations: Disneyland,” in Charles Lemert (ed.) Social Theory: The Multicultural and Classic Readings. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Pp. 479-485
Garfinkel, Harold. (2009). “Reflexive Properties of Practical Sociology.” in Charles Lemert (ed.) Social Theory: The Multicultural and Classic Readings. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Pp. 439-443
Week 12: Power and Knowledge
How does the decentralization of knowledge illuminate the dynamics of power? How is this influenced by one’s standpoint? What are the larger social ramifications of such inequities in the production of discourse? How can we use the Chicana feminist movement as an example?
Tuesday, November 9
Foucault, Michel. (2009). “Power as Knowledge,” in Charles Lemert (ed.) Social Theory: The Multicultural and Classic Readings. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Pp. 473-479
Foucault, Michel. (2009). “Biopolitics and the Carceral Society,” in Charles Lemert (ed.) Social Theory: The Multicultural and Classic Readings. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Pp. 417-421