Emergence of Sociology as a Discipline and Modernity Flashcards
Give a brief description of how sociology emerged as a distinct discipline.
Dark Ages in Europe
Renaissance Emerged (Scientific Revolution and Commercial Revolution were a partof it)
Renaissance intensified with FR and consolidated with IR
Transformation of Political Ideas through FR
IR gave rise to technological transformation
All these events brought social changes, some good , some bad, but the society of Western Europe was forever changed.
Gave birth to modernity.
Intellectuals, wanted to study these changes and understand the new society.
So a body of knowledge emerged - Sociology
What is modernity?
Thinking of new
New way of thinking
A comparative study/concept
Without understanding what is traditional, we can’t tell what is modern
Results of Modernity?
Some were happy - new hope
Some were sad - broken down traditional institutions+values
Early Sociologists on Modernity ( Saint Simone)
- modernity is a product of science and rationality
- modernity has given a way to move away from people who were idle (clergy and aristocrats) - living in luxury
- fruit of labor to the worker and the professionals who worked
- focus of work = problems of industrialization and their solutions
Early Sociologists on Modernity (Auguste Comte)
- societies are subjected to progress because of development of ideas and technical expansion
- Theological Society
- Metaphysical Society
- Positivistic Society
- enjoy the benefits of modernity and work for its consolidation
- modernity= hope
Early Sociologists on Modernity (Emile Durkheim)
- small society = when the population rises + goes for different work specialization+ modern institutions -> Modern Society
- to reach the complex stage of modernity - must pass through a transitional stage
- this stage = the old is still there and new has not made its comprehensive appearance -> therefore confusion, chaos, turmoil, crisis -> this is anomy
- modernity = hope (no alternative)
Early Sociologists on Modernity (Karl Marx)
- modernity per se is not bad
- mass production is not bad
- but control of technology, mass produced good - with one class (bourgeoisie) - is not good
- against capitalism
- to promote equality - revolution necessary
- capitalism to socialism is the solution
Early Sociologists on Modernity ( Max Weber)
- modernity = historical process - coming out of rationalization of different institutions
- rationality = disengagement from religion
Modernity in Today’s Context?
- we are orphaned by modernity
- we expected something big but what is happening today has given us suffering and pain
- modern tech used by fundamentalists to kill innocents
- modern means if communication used by state to control and keep eye on what people are doing in private life
- environment= suffering and affecting people
- modern countries - became sophisticated and more modern
- global unity is unthinkable
- Who will pay for pollution?
What modern today was not modern at the time.
Modernity isnnot stable and us continuous in character
Commercial Revolution ?
- 1450 - 1800
- shift from largely subsustence and stagnant economy to a dynamic and worldwide economic system
- expansion of trade and commerce
- result of initiative taken up by European countries to consolidate their economic and political power
- growth of banking and invention of cheque
- paper money rpelaced gold an dislver coins
- credit facilities expanded
growth of companies
Renaissance ?
- 14th to 17th century
- Italy
- cultural bridge between middle and modern history
- saw the beginning of Scienctific Revolution
- scientific approach to Nature + Human body -> prevalent
- paintings epxlored smallest detaisl of human body and nature
- dissection of human body -> acceptable
- anatomy + physiology + pathology = benefited by this
- geenral theory of chemistry developed
- Vasco de Gama reache dIndian shores through navigation
- expansion of trade
- beginnings of colonialism
- Copernicus - gave his heliocentric theory rejecting the geocentric theory
Who coined the term Sociology?
Auguste Comte
1839
French Philosopher
What is Sociology according to Professor Ginsberg?
the study of society, that is , of the web or tissue of human interactions and interrelations
study of man’s behaviour in groups and the interactions among human beings, social relationships and process of human activities
What is the need for Sociology?
Human curiosity to understand the social world gave rise to different disciplines such as history, economy, philosophy,etc.
But these address different aspects of human society. Gives us a shot from different angles. But never a view of society in its comprehensive totality.
Therefore, we need a greater science that studies society as a whole. To achieve this SOCIOLOGY was designed.
