Principles of Sociology, HPCS4003

Course Objectives

Definition and Subject Matter of Sociology
- Sociology studies human societies, particularly modern, industrialized ones.
- Focuses on human behavior and social interactions.
Difference Between Sociological and Commonsense Knowledge
- Sociological knowledge is systematic and based on research, while commonsense is unsystematic and derived from experiences.
Sociological Imagination
- Concept developed by C. Wright Mills; allows understanding of connections between personal experiences and broader societal forces.
Classical Foundational Theories
- Introduction to main sociological perspectives such as functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism.

Key Themes
- Definition and aims of sociology.
- The sociological imagination's role.
- Historical context of sociology, focusing on foundational theories and perspectives.

Definition: Sociology is the study of human societies with a focus on modern industrialized societies (A. Giddens).
Methods: It employs systematic and scientific approaches to study social behavior and relationships, using objective research methods.

Studies social institutions (e.g. religion, economy, politics, family, education).
Examines groups of people, social interactions, and interpretations of social meanings.

Academic Sociology: Focuses on sociological theories and research methodologies within academia.
Applied Sociology: Involves using sociological theories and research methods to bring about social change in real-world scenarios (e.g., market research, NGOs, government policy).

Commonsense Knowledge:
- Based on shared societal beliefs, unsystematic and often inaccurate.
- Can lead to stereotypes and invalid generalizations.
Sociological Knowledge:
- Challenges commonsense views and seeks to provide a deeper understanding of social settings and structures.

Defines the connection between individual experiences and larger social forces.
Components:
- Personal troubles: Issues affecting individuals directly.
- Public issues: Societal problems beyond individual control.
Example: Youth unemployment as both a personal trouble (individual job-seeking) and a public issue (economic condition).

Founding Figures:
- Auguste Comte: Coined 'sociology', argued for scientific study.
- Emile Durkheim: Established sociology as an empirical science, viewed social facts as powerful forces shaping individual behavior.
- Max Weber: Focused on understanding the meanings behind social actions.
- Karl Marx: Emphasized class conflict and economic conditions' impact on society.

Functionalism:
- Focuses on how societal parts contribute to stability and order; e.g., Talcott Parsons' AGIL model.
Conflict Theory:
- Centers on power struggles and resource competition, primarily class conflict in capitalism.
Symbolic Interactionism:
- Examines how individual actions are influenced by meanings developed through social interactions.

Emile Durkheim:
- Introduced the concept of social facts, studied through observable consequences in society.
- Discussed anomie as a breakdown of norms during social upheaval.
Max Weber:
- Concept of 'Verstehen' necessitating empathy to understand social actions.
- Developed 'ideal types' for analyzing social phenomena.
Karl Marx:
- Proposed that societal changes arise from conflict between classes, focusing on economic exploitation and class consciousness.

Simone de Beauvoir:
- Analyzed women's experiences against traditional gender roles, emphasizing socialization over biology.

Each sociological theory presents a unique lens through which to view social behavior and institutions, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of societal dynamics.