major perspectives associated with key sociologists

Question 1

Auguste Comte

Answer 1

• Perspective: Positivism
• Details: Comte is considered the “Father of Sociology” and was a proponent of positivism, which emphasizes using scientific methods to study society. He believed in a systematic, empirical approach to understanding social dynamics and structures.

Question 2

Karl Marx

Answer 2

• Perspective: Conflict Theory
• Details: Marx focused on the struggles between different social classes, primarily the bourgeoisie (owners of production) and the proletariat (workers). He emphasized the role of economic structures and material conditions in shaping society, arguing that societal change arises from class conflict.

Question 3

Émile Durkheim

Answer 3

• Perspective: Functionalism
• Details: Durkheim viewed society as a complex system of interrelated parts that work together to maintain stability and order. He studied social facts, collective conscience, and institutions, emphasizing their role in maintaining social cohesion.

Question 4

Max Weber

Answer 4

• Perspective: Interpretive Sociology / Symbolic Interactionism
• Details: Weber emphasized the importance of understanding social action through subjective meaning. He focused on individual agency, the role of ideas (e.g., Protestant ethic), and the importance of understanding the meanings people attach to their actions. He is also linked to studying bureaucracy and rationalization.

Question 5

Herbert Spencer

Answer 5

• Perspective: Social Darwinism / Functionalism
• Details: Spencer applied Darwinian evolutionary theory to society, viewing social systems as evolving organisms. He believed in the survival of the fittest and saw society’s development as a natural process of adaptation and differentiation.

Question 6

Talcott Parsons

Answer 6

• Perspective: Functionalism / Systems Theory
• Details: Parsons developed a structural-functional approach, emphasizing the role of institutions in maintaining social equilibrium. He introduced concepts like the AGIL framework, which outlines the functions necessary for a society’s survival.

Question 7

C. Wright Mills

Answer 7

• Perspective: Conflict Theory / Sociological Imagination
• Details: Mills emphasized the power structures and inequalities in society, critiquing the elite’s role in controlling resources. He coined the term “sociological imagination,” encouraging a connection between individual experiences and broader societal structures.

Question 8

George Herbert Mead

Answer 8

• Perspective: Symbolic Interactionism
• Details: Mead studied how individuals construct social reality through symbols and interactions. He explored concepts like the self, socialization, and the development of identity.