the classical sociologists and values

four classical thinkers who shaped sociology in its early years, , all had views on the question of objectivity and value freedom.

who are the four sociologists?

four classical thinkers who shaped sociology in its early years, - Comte, Durkheim, Marx and Weber, all had views on the question of objectivity and value freedom.

The early positivists : Comte and Durkheim

• For the early positivists A____ C___ (1798-1857) and E___ D___ (1858-1917), believed we should use what rather than what s to improve society.

• They shared the e_____ or m view of the role of sociology.

• As the science of society, sociology's job was to what, uncovering the l___ that govern its proper f___.

• Equipped with this knowledge, s____ p___ could be solved and h___ l___ improved.

The early positivists : Comte and Durkheim

• For the early positivists Auguste Comte (1798-1857) and Emile Durkheim (1858-1917), believed we should use objective evidence rather than personal opinions to improve society.

• They shared the Enlightenment or modernist view of the role of sociology.

• As the science of society, sociology's job was to discover the truth about how society works, uncovering the laws that govern its proper functioning.

• Equipped with this knowledge, social problems could be solved and human life improved.

The early positivists : Comte and Durkheim

• In their view, scientific sociology would reveal the one correct society. This gave sociologists a c____ r___

• By discovering the t____ about how society worked, sociologists would be able to say o_____ and s_____ c_____ what was really best for society - they would be able to prescribe how things ought to be.

• In fact, Comte regarded sociology as the what and saw sociologists as what

The early positivists : Comte and Durkheim

• In their view, scientific sociology would reveal the one correct society. This gave sociologists a crucial role.

• By discovering the truth about how society worked, sociologists would be able to say objectively and with scientific certainty what was really best for society - they would be able to prescribe how things ought to be.

• In fact, Comte regarded sociology as the 'queen of the sciences and saw sociologists as latter-day priests of a new scientific religion of truth.

Karl Marx

• Karl Marx (1818-83) saw himself as a s____ and that he believed his method of h____ a____, h___ m___, could reveal the line of development of human society.

• This development involved an e___ through a series of different types of c___-b___ s___, leading ultimately to a what, in which what 3 thing pa would be ended, and each individual would be free to achieve their true p___.

Karl Marx

• Karl Marx (1818-83) saw himself as a scientist and that he believed his method of historical analysis, historical materialism, could reveal the line of development of human society.

• This development involved an evolution through a series of different types of class-based society, leading ultimately to a future classless communist society, in which exploitation, alienation and poverty would be ended, and each individual would be free to achieve their true potential.

Karl Marx

• The role of Marx's sociology, therefore, was to reveal the truth of this development, especially to the proletariat, why especially them ?

• Marx thus takes for granted the value of the ideal communist society and argues that his scientific approach will show us how to reach it.

• In this he how is he similar to Comte and Durkheim, ?

• Marx’s sociology is based on a value what is this That means his work is value-laden, not value-free.

• Value-free → the researcher doesn’t let what influence their study.

• Marx → assumes c____ is good → so his sociology is guided by v__

Karl Marx

• The role of Marx's sociology, therefore, was to reveal the truth of this development, especially to the proletariat, since they would be the class to overthrow capitalism and herald the birth of communist society.

• Marx thus takes for granted the value of the ideal communist society and argues that his scientific approach will show us how to reach it.

• In this he is similar to Comte and Durkheim, in that he sees science as helping to deliver' the good society.

• Marx’s sociology is based on a value: the belief that a communist society is the desirable end goal. That means his work is value-laden, not value-free.

• Value-free → the researcher doesn’t let personal values influence their study.

• Marx → assumes communism is good → so his sociology is guided by value

Max Weber

• Marx, Durkheim and Comte made no distinction between what? – they believed that science could tell us what ? This means their sociology was value-laden, since they assumed that science could do what.

• By contrast, Max Weber (1864–1920) made a sharp distinction between what arguing that we cannot d____ the one from the other.

• what does value judgment mean?

• For example, research might show that divorcees are more likely to commit s____. However, this fact does not prove the value judgment that of what , since deciding whether divorce is right or wrong is based on b___ and m____, not s ___. There is nothing about the fact that logically compels us to accept the value.

• For example, we might argue that we should instead make it harder to get m____ (another value), or that people have every right to commit s____ if they wish (a third value). None of these value judgments are 'p____' by the established fact.

• Indeed, in Weber's view, a value can be neither p____ nor d___ by the facts: they belong to different realms.

Max Weber

• Marx, Durkheim and Comte made no distinction between the facts as revealed by science and the values that we should hold – they believed that science could tell us what these values should be. This means their sociology was value-laden, since they assumed that science could define the “good society” (e.g. Comte’s positivism, Durkheim’s concern for social order, Marx’s vision of communism).

• By contrast, Max Weber (1864–1920) made a sharp distinction between value judgments and facts, arguing that we cannot derive the one from the other.

• value judgment means an opinion about what is right or wrong, or what should happen, rather than an objective fact.

• For example, research might show that divorcees are more likely to commit suicide. However, this fact does not prove the value judgment that we should make divorce harder to obtain, since deciding whether divorce is right or wrong is based on beliefs and morals, not science. There is nothing about the fact that logically compels us to accept the value.

• For example, we might argue that we should instead make it harder to get married (another value), or that people have every right to commit suicide if they wish (a third value). None of these value judgments are 'proven' by the established fact.

• Indeed, in Weber's view, a value can be neither proved nor disproved by the facts: they belong to different realms.

Max Weber

However, despite making a sharp distinction between what, Weber still saw an essential role for values in sociological research.

We can divide his views into four stages of the research process.- what are they?

Max Weber

However, despite making a sharp distinction between facts and values, Weber still saw an essential role for values in sociological research.

We can divide his views into four stages of the research process.

1. values as a guide to research

2. data collection and hypothesis testing

3. value in the interpretation of data

4. values and the sociologist as a citizen

Max Weber- values as a guide to research

• Weber took the idea from where that social reality is made up of what that make it impossible to study it in its t___{.

• Therefore the best the researcher can do is to select c____ facts and study these-But the problem is what? In Weber's view, we can only select them in terms of what we regard as important based on our own v____ - in other words, their v__ r____ to us.

• Values are thus essential in enabling us to do what

• For example, feminists value what and this leads them to study w___ o____ and to develop c____ such as p____ with which to understand it.

Max Weber- values as a guide to research

• Weber took the idea from phenomenology that social reality is made up of a 'meaningless infinity' of facts that make it impossible to study it in its totality.

• Therefore the best the researcher can do is to select certain facts and study these-But the problem is how do we choose which facts to study. In Weber's view, we can only select them in terms of what we regard as important based on our own values - in other words, their value relevance to us.

• Values are thus essential in enabling us to select which aspects of reality to study and in developing concepts with which to understand these aspects.

• For example, feminists value gender equality and this leads them to study women's oppression and to develop concepts such as patriarchy with which to understand it.

Max Weber- data collection and hypothesis testing

• While values are essential in selecting what to study, in Weber's view we must be as o____ and u____ as possible when we are actually collecting the f___, keeping our v___ and p____ out of the process.

• For example, we should not ask what: our questions should aim to get respondents to give us their v____, not our o___.

• Once we have gathered the facts, we can use them to test a h___. Again, we must keep our v____ out of the process - the hypothesis must stand or fall solely on what

Max Weber- data collection and hypothesis testing

• While values are essential in selecting what to study, in Weber's view we must be as objective and unbiased as possible when we are actually collecting the facts, keeping our values and prejudices out of the process.

• For example, we should not ask leading questions designed to give the answers that we want to hear: our questions should aim to get respondents to give us their view, not our own.

• Once we have gathered the facts, we can use them to test a hypothesis. Again, we must keep our values out of the process - the hypothesis must stand or fall solely on whether or not it fits the observed facts.

Max Weber- values in the interpretation of data

• Values become important again when we come to do what ?

• The facts need to be set in a t____ f____ so that we can understand their s____ and draw c____ from them.

• In Weber's view, our choice of t____ f____ or p____ is influenced by our v___.

• Therefore, we must be e____ about them, spelling out our values so that others can see if u____ bias is present in our interpretation of our data.

Max Weber- values in the interpretation of data

• Values become important again when we come to interpret the data we have collected.

• The facts need to be set in a theoretical framework so that we can understand their significance and draw conclusions from them.

• In Weber's view, our choice of theoretical framework or perspective is influenced by our values.

• Therefore, we must be explicit about them, spelling out our values so that others can see if unconscious bias is present in our interpretation of our data.

Max Weber Values and the sociologist as a citizen

• Research findings often have very r____ e____ on people's l___, but sociologists and scientists sometimes choose to ignore the what

• They argue that their job is merely to conduct o____ r____ and discover the facts; it is for the whi to decide what use to make of their findings.

• Weber rejects this view. He argues that scientists and sociologists are also h___ b___ and c____ and they must not dodge what by hiding behind words such as 'o____' or 'v___ f____'.

• They must take m____ r____ for the harm their research may do. + example of Einstein's theories

Max Weber Values and the sociologist as a citizen

• Research findings often have very real effects on people's lives, but sociologists and scientists sometimes choose to ignore the uses to which their work is put.

• They argue that their job is merely to conduct objective research and discover the facts; it is for the politicians or public to decide what use to make of their findings.

• Weber rejects this view. He argues that scientists and sociologists are also human beings and citizens and they must not dodge the moral and political issues their work raises by hiding behind words such as 'objectivity' or 'value freedom'.

• They must take moral responsibility for the harm their research may do. For example, Einstein's theories helped make the atomic bomb possible; yet subsequently he spoke out against nuclear weapons.

• To summarise, Weber sees values as relevant to the sociologist in what 3 ways

• By contrast, the sociologist's values must be kept out of the actual process of f___ g___.

• (Weber sees values as i____, but he wants them kept in their p___ p____ and must not distort what)

• To summarise, Weber sees values as relevant to the sociologist in choosing what to research, in interpreting the data collected and in deciding the use to which the findings should be put.

• By contrast, the sociologist's values must be kept out of the actual process of fact gathering.

• (Weber sees values as important, but he wants them kept in their proper place and must not distort the actual scientific process of collecting evidence)