SOC 100 Exam #2: The Enlightenment

The Enlightenment (1700s)

science, progress, individual

Emergence of Sociology: Factors and Time Frame

• Intellectual

• Economic

• Social

• Political

Emergence of Sociology: Intellectual Factors

• The Enlightenment (1700s) 

  • Science, progress, individual 

• The Counter-Enlightenment (end of 1700s) 

  • Too much individual = anarchy! Keep Institutions!

• Differentiation of Social Sciences within the University 

  • History, economics, psychology, and anthropology

^^18/19th century thinkers wanted to analyze the remarkable change occurring around them with these 3 factors in mind: economic, social, political

Emergence of Sociology: Economic Factors

• Expansion of Commerce & Markets – b/c of population growth

• Industrialization – new machinery, smokestacks, pollution

Emergence of Sociology: Social Factors

• Urbanization – ppl left farms → cities to work in factories

  • Made more sense for farmers – became a source of reliable/steady income (farming is unpredictable)

• Decline of Local Communities  – cities rise w/ urbanization

Emergence of Sociology: Political Factors

• Rise of bureaucratic nation states

  • City states – ex. Florence, Rome

• Decline in the power of the Church

• Feminism 

  • Rising in importance. Individuals matter whether they’re female or male.

Result of intellectual, economic, social, & political factors affecting society

As the economic, social & political change in Europe became more dramatic in the 19th century…

• Industrial revolution 

• French Revolution 

• Birth of nation states 

• Feminism 

• Decline of the Church’s power 

… There was an interest in assessing that social change scientifically, based on the 17th & 18th century Enlightenment thinking.

• Science - all aspects of life subject to the same critical examination as nature

• The individual is capable of understanding and making decisions (intellectual independence)

• The world “progress”

Enlightenment Thinking

Emphasized reason, science, and individualism as primary sources of authority and progress. Promotes intellectual independence.

When did Sociology emerge as a field of study?

1880

• Sociology became the specialized form of assessing social change, drawing from social science disciplines that emerged earlier (history, economics, anthro, psych)

Key Questions addressed by early sociology

• What are the mechanics [physics] of society: how does it “work”?

• What causes society to change/progress?

• How are individuals related to each other and to society? 

• Do individuals shape society (AGENCY), or does society shape individuals (STRUCTURE) 

• What is the best way to study society?

Nominees for “First Sociologist”

• Saint-Simon (1760-1825) 

• Comte (1978-1857)

• Martineau (1802-1876) 

• Marx (1818-1883)

Saint-Simon (1760-1825)

• Father/founder of French Sociology

• The evolution of society is the progressive triumph of “association” over “antagonism” – his response for the question How does society progress? – he notices that progress happens when ppl cooperate

• 3 stages of history **just need to know there were three stages of history

  • Polytheism – slavery 

  • Theism – feudalism

  • Positivism – industrialism 

• Socialist: the whole of society ought to strive towards the amelioration (improvement) of the poorest class 

• Feminist - full of equality for women 

Comte (1978-1857)

• 3 stages of history - Evolution of world views & society **just know there were 3 stages 

  • Theological

  • Metaphysical

  • Scientific/positive 

• Coined the term “sociology” - Queen of the Sciences 

Martineau (1802-1876)

• Sociological method - developed principles and methods of empirical social research 

• Translated Comte 

• Wide-ranging interests

  • Class, religion, suicide, national character, domestic relations, women’s status, criminology, and interrelations between institutions & individuals 

Marx (1818-1883)

• “Historical Materialism” - the basis of social change is conflict about production

  • Progression in production moves history FORWARD – believes producing is the fundamental things of human beings

• Marx is the touchstone for all subsequent sociological work 

• Enlightenment thinker