Chapter 4 Flashcards
A set of instructions used to solve a problem or perform a task
algorithm
The condition in which an individual is isolated from their society, work, sense of self, and/or common humanity
alienation
A situation of uncertain norms and regulations in which society no longer has the support of a firm collective consciousness
anomie
The geological epoch defined by the impact of human activities on the global ecosystem
anthropocene
A historical materialist model of society in which the economic structure forms the base of a society, which shapes its culture and other social institutions, or superstructure
base and superstructure
The owners of the means of production in a society
bourgeoisie
Awareness of one’s class position and interests
class consciousness
The communal beliefs, morals, and attitudes of a society
collective conscience
A collectivity based on shared emotional bonds, ambience, feeling, sensibility, or atmoshere
community of feeling
The transformation of social life into the raw material of data as a new stage of global colonization
data colonialism
A type of analysis that proposes that social contradiction, opposition, and struggle in society drive processes of social change and transformation
dialectics
The way in which the creation of culture is both constrained by limits given by the environment, and a means to go beyond these natural limits
dialectic of culture
The gap between those who are able to access and make effective use of information technology and those who cannot
digital divide
The replacement of magical thinking by technological rationality and calculation
disenchantment of the world
The division of people into different occupations and specializations
division of labour
A way of life or a way of conducting oneself in life
ethos
When a person’s beliefs and ideology are in conflict with their best interests
false consciousness
Agricultural societies that operate on a strict hierarchical system of power based around land ownership, protection, and mutual obligations
feudal societies
A model of capital accumulation based on mass production, cheap standardized products, high wages, and mass consumption
Fordism
A city which has become a central node in a global economic network
global city
An approach to understanding society that explains social change, human ideas, and social organization in terms of underlying changes in the economic (or material) structure of society
historical materialism
Societies based around the cultivation of plants
horticultural societies
Societies that depend on hunting wild animals and gathering uncultivated plants for survival
hunter-gatherer societies
Societies characterized by a reliance on mechanized labour to create material goods
industrial societies
Societies based on the production of nonmaterial goods and services
information societies
A situation in which an individual is trapped by the rational and efficient processes of social institutions
iron cage
The three stages of evolution that societies develop through: theological, metaphysical, and positive
law of three stages
Anything that is used in economic production in a society to produce goods, satisfy needs and maintain existence (e.g., land, animals, crop production, technology, factories, etc.)
means of production
Social solidarity or cohesion through a shared collective consciousness with harsh punishment for deviation from the norms
mechanical solidarity
A stage of social evolution in which people explain events in terms of abstract or speculative ideas
metaphysical stage
The ensemble of policies, rules, patterns of conduct, organizational forms and institutions which stabilize capitalist accumulation
mode of regulation
A set of policies in which the state reduces its role in providing public services, regulating industry, redistributing wealth, and protecting the commons while advocating the use of free market mechanisms to regulate society
neoliberalism
The economic transition to sedentary, agriculture based societies beginning approximately 10,200 years
neolithic revolution
Groups of people bound together in communities of feeling who gather at particular times and places for specific reasons and then disband
neo-tribes
A linkage of autonomous companies, or segments of companies, often geographically disperse, organized temporarily for specific projects or tasks and characteristic of global information societies
network enterprise
A society whose social structure is made up of networks organized through digital information and communications technologies
network society
A consumption model based on small batch production of specialized goods tailored for specific market segments or “niches.”
niche market consumption
Social solidarity or cohesion through a complex division of labour, mutual interdependence, and restitutive law
organic solidarity
Societies based around the domestication of animals
pastoral societies
A form of society characterized by irreducible social heterogeneity, contingent social relationships, and ephemeral organizational structures
postmodern society
Insecure employment based on subcontracting, temporary contracts, outsourcing and involuntary part-time work
precarious employment
The wage labourers in capitalist society
proletariat
The duty to work hard in one’s calling
Protestant work ethic
The general tendency in modern society for all institutions and most areas of life to be transformed by the application of rationality and efficiency
rationalization
A practice of self-awareness, self-reflection, and self-monitoring in which people distance themselves from traditions and institutional roles to construct their own identities
reflexive subjectivity
The division of society into economic classes (the social roles allotted to individuals by virtue of their position in an economic system of production)
relations of production
The process by which groups become isolated in ways that hinder their communication and cooperation with others
siloization
A group defined by a distinct relationship to the means of production
social class
How strongly a person is connected to their social group
social integration
General patterns of social behaviour and organization that persist through time
social structure
A form of capitalism based on surveilling, extracting, and commodifying digital information about people
surveillance capitalism
A stage of social evolution in which people explain events with respect to the will of God or gods
theological stage
A system of social security whereby the government intervenes in the economy to redistribute resources and protect the health and well-being of its citizens
welfare state
