Lecture 3

Sociological Theories A Continuation Conflict Theory Carl Marx (1818-1883) Major Works: Capital Volumes 1, 2 & 3 The Communist Manifesto Conflict Theory Power: holds society together Conflict is society’s natural state Bourgeoisie (owners of capital) dominate Proletariat (workers) Revolution was the means of change (2005, Education Canada) Marx: Class, Conflict, and the Power of Property Each major societal form is characterized by a struggle between the “haves” and “have-nots.” Productive property is the source of the division called the “means of production.” Bourgeoisie: control means of production. Proletariat: workers who would overthrow the bourgeoisie transforming capitalism to socialism and a classless society. (2005, Education Canada) Karl Marx Human Potential Varying Power and Needs Faculties, abilities, and capabilities of people Desire people have for things not immediately available Consciousness Human potential explained by unique consciousness Human mental capabilities differ from animals: Animals just “do” Choice in action Plan before action Physical and mental flexibility Attention to activity for extended period Nature of human minds leads to people to be highly social Conflict Theory - Continued Sociability People cannot express humanness without other people Unanticipated Consequence “…while we are highly successful in bringing about the immediate results of our conscious intentions, we still to often fail to anticipate and forestall the undesired remoter consequences of those results themselves” Society and Conflict Social conflict: the struggle between segments of society over valued resources Capitalists own the factories and productive enterprises Proletariat provide the labour To maximize profits capitalists exploit the proletariat Proletariat will overturn the system CLASS CONSCIOUSNESS – necessary for the “system” to be overturned Alienation the experience of isolation resulting from powerlessness Components: Workers alienated from their productive activity Workers alienated from the product Workers alienated from fellow workers Workers alienated from own human potential Structures of Capitalism Commodities Capital Private property Division of labour Social Class Cultural Aspects of Capitalist Society Class Consciousness – Example: Workers coming together and recognizing that they share their concerns with those around them, they are no longer alienated False Consciousness – Example: Persons working very hard for a company, allowing their “bosses” to gain wealth, feeling they too are gaining wealth, although in truth they are removed from the fruits of their work Ideology – a set or series of belief that serve as the foundation of collective action Example: The reasons behind the advocating for gay marriage Symbolic Interactionism Part of the Interpretive Paradigm Symbolic Interactionism Micro (small-scale) perspective Emphasizes subjective over objective Agents: individuals have goals and pursue them Behaviour and attitudes depend on how people construct their social world Mead: people interact by strings of symbols, e.g., language (gestures) Mead: people re-define themselves based on their remembered past and anticipated future (2005, Education Canada) Symbolic Interactionism (cont’d) Blumer: people act toward things on the basis of meanings those things have for them Learning Theory: people learn by association or reward and punishment Rational Choice Theory: Marginal utility theorem: people act to maximize satisfaction received from the last item (2005, Education Canada Symbolic Interactionism (cont’d) Game Theory: what one chooses depends on what others choose Tarde: Imitation or social learning: people learn to be something, e.g., a criminal, from other criminals Weber: people must learn to empathize, to put oneself in the place of another (2005, Education Canada Symbolic Interactionism Classical Theorist: Max Weber (1864-1920) Major Works: The Protestant Ethic and The Spirit of Capitalism Class, Status and Power The Sociology of Religion Max Weber (1864-1920) Charismatic Authority: What is Charisma? Name a charismatic leader? Religion and the Rise of Capitalism Religion and the Rise of Capitalism (p. 260 – 262 Teevan Text) Protestantism, Calvinism, and industrial capitalism Calvinists believed in predestination Calvinists worked towards their “calling” to gain favour with God (ethic of vocation) not knowing fate was intolerable economic success showed God’s favour religious ethic transformed to work ethic Calvinists earned, yet only spent to increase earning potential, not to have material wealth and comfort Provided Capital Allowed for the growth of Capitalism Rational Social Organization Seven characteristics of today’s social life: Distinctive social institutions Large-scale organization Specialized tasks Personal discipline Awareness of time Technical competence Impersonality Feminist Theories Focus on women and gender More activist: raises consciousness Interdisciplinary taking leadership roles Accept a broader range of approach to research Mix different sociological approaches Today most sociologists favour a mix of approaches. (2005, Education Canada) Feminism Marxist Feminism (or Conflict Feminism) Structural Functional Feminism Black Feminism Gay/Homosexual Feminism Divisions in the feminist Movement Strategy of Divide and Conquer Running white men… Feminist vs.. Female Opportunists Next Class: Individual and Society Culture Socialization Interpretive paradigm