I. The Emergence of Sociological Theory

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I. The Emergence of Sociological Theory II. Three
Persistent Controversies A. The Debate Over
Positivism B. The Debate Over Psychological
Reductionism C. The Debate Over Idealism and
Materialism
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Sociology is not an impossible science, but it
is a very difficult one.

• What did it take for Sociology to emerge?
• Why did this happen in nineteenth century Europe?

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Summary of Obstacles to Sociology

• The social world tends to be taken for granted
• The distinction between state and society was
  only gradually understood
• Peoples perceptions tend to be ideological--to
  reflect the interests associated with their
  social positions
• People tend to repress things they dont want to
  admit
• Knowledge of the social world is clouded by
  illusions

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How were these illusions confronted in 19th
century Europe?

• Industrial revolution and its transformation of
  society
• European contact with the rest of the world
• The rise of the other sciences
• The role of key thinkers Marx, Durkheim, Freud
• Quote p. 8

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The Debate Over Positivism

• Term coined by Auguste Comte
• Reflected his belief that humankind had entered
  a new positive age, an age of science
• Belief in the unity of science

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The Debate Over Positivism

• Sociology and other sciences are basically the
  same
• Goals discovery of universal laws (social
  physics)
• Methods reliance on empirical observation
  (reliable data)

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A Continuum of Visions of Sociology Science______
________________Interpretation
Laws Insights Focus on the universal Focus
on the particular General explanations Thick
descriptions Quantitative methods
Qualitative methods Positivism
Interpretavism
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The Debate over Psychological Reductionism

• The idea that sociology could be reduced to
  psychology--that social phenomena rest on
  individual or psychological foundations
• Therefore statements about societies and social
  groups can be translated into statements about
  individuals

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How did Durkheim and other early sociologists
critique this point of view?
structuralism
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A second continuum Durkheim
I __________________________________ Psychologica
l StructuralismReductionism
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The Debate over Idealism and Materialism

• philosophical idealism
• philosophical materialism

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A third continuum ______________________________
____Idealism Materialism

• a debate about causes, about moving forces