A Brief History of Sociology

Guys and Ideas(and Two Women)

In the Beginning

1848-1920

Auguste Comte

•The “Father of Sociology”•French philosopher•Dynamics – processes by which societies change•Statics – processes by which societies endure(1798-1857)

Herbert Spencer

•Englishman•Living organism with interdependent parts•“Survival of the fittest”•Society will take care of itself

1820-1903

Three Influential Voices

1848-1920

Karl Marx•German political philosopher and economist•Social conflict (esp. class conflict) mark all societies•Bourgeoisie – capitalists•Proletariat – workers•Economics play a larger role in determining a person’s sociological views•People have to act to change their societies

1818-1883

Emile Durkheim

•French philosopher and sociologist•Systematically applied scientific methods•Only direct observation is valid; not people’s subjective experiences

(1858-1917)

Max Weber

•German political economist and sociologist•Must consider people’s interpretations of events•Verstehen – empathetic understanding

1864-1920

One Influential Group

1848-1920

University of Chicago• First official “Department of

Sociology” at a major research university to offer a Ph.D. in 1892

• American Journal of Sociology• American Sociological Association• Tradition of “Chicago sociology”

– Varieties of urban life– Street gangs– Immigrants– Labor conflicts/issues– Urban “underclass”

Jane Addams

•Preeminent founder of sociology in America•Started the Hull House•Technique of “mapping”•Organizing communities and lobbying political leaders•Nobel Peace Prize in 19311860-1935

Sociology Becomes a Science

1920 – 1960

Golden Age of Sociology in America

Talcott Parsons

• Harvard University• “General Theory of

Social Action” -- universal laws govern social systems

• Integrating disciplines

1902-1979

Robert Merton

• Columbia University• Knowledge and ideas

are rooted in society• Sociology based on

empirical research

1910 - 2003

Sociology Goes Global

1968-2000s

Pierre Bourdieu

• French sociologist• Habitus – social ways of

acting that become taken for granted as part of everyday life

• Reproduction Theory

1930-2002

Dorothy Smith

• Canadian• Feminist pioneer • Critic of the systematic

ignorance of the unique position of women in social life

1926 --

Michel Foucault

• French social historian• A founder of queer

theory• Power-knowledge• Investigated dynamics

of power and subjugation

1926-1984

Paulo Freire

• Brazilian educator• Pedagogy of the

Oppressed• Hidden curriculum• Banking model of

education• Praxis

1921-1997