Chapter 4

Question 1

Methodological individualism

Answer 1

Methodological individualist regards individual actions as determining factor in the explanation of social phenomena like markets and companies

It is based on the premise that social reality cannot be determined by supra individual factors (factors that go beyond what individuals do)

Question 2

Methodological collectivism

Answer 2

Methodological collectivism is based on the premise that individual phenomena are determined by the structure in which they are immersed.
The whole is more than a sum of individual parts

Question 3

Ontological holism

Answer 3

Individual actions are determined by what’s available in the contextual whole

Question 4

What is Emile Durkheim’s view on society?

Answer 4

Society is not to be viewed as a sum of individuals but as a reality that has a life of its own.
Society produces shared ideas and norms

And this, comprises a culture that determines the actions and thoughts of individuals

Therefore, social phenomena cannot be explained by individual behavior.

The opposite is true: individual behavior is to be explained as determined by the culture of the society in which these individuals operate.

Question 5

Systems theory: functional explanations

Answer 5

The function provides for the explanation of the phenomenon

Functionalism focuses on the system and the role a phenomenon plays within such a system

Why does a giraffe have a long neck? So that they can reach higher leaves and survive
Why do birds have membranes between their toes?because thanks to these membranes they are better swimmers and thus better survivors

Question 6

Explain the difference between causality and functionality

Answer 6

Causality assesses events preceding a phenomenon and functionality assesses the goal a phenomenon serves

Question 7

Symbolic interactionism

Answer 7

Meanings and norms within a group determine the motivations of individual actors in it

Symbolic interactionism considers people to be reason givers (I.e. actors) though it emphasizes that realms are related to norms emerging and functioning at a supra individual level (as a whole, not individually)

The central question of symbolic interactionism is:
How do we get to know what the norm is? How do we come to understand the correct code or rule?

It aims to find the norm behind everything that we consider normal.

Question 8

Normativity

Answer 8

Normativity presupposes fallibility

There is a difference between rule following behavior and patterned behavior (acting in accordance with the rules )

Taking the same route to the university every day is a patterned behavior, it’s not a behavior lead by a rule

Question 9

What are the 3 types of explanations?

Answer 9

1. Functional
2. Intentional
3. Causal