Sociology Chapter 1 Uploaded Set
Exam 2025
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Sociology - -the systematic study of the relationship between individuals and society
Sociological perspective - -to see and understand the connections between individuals
and the broader contexts in which they live
Modernity - -characterized by the growth of democracy and personal freedom,
increased reliance on reason and science to explain the natural and social worlds, and
a shift toward an urban industrial economy
Enlightenment - -an 18th century intellectual movement that combined a belief in
individual freedom and respect for individual rights with the calculated logic of the
natural sciences
Industrialization - -the use of large scale machinery for the mass manufacture of
consumer goods
Consumerism - -a way of life that depends on the purchase and use of commercial
goods and services
Capitalism - -an economic system in which the machinery used for production is owned
privately, workers are paid a wage, and market facilitate the exchange of goods and
services
Urbanization - -the growth of cities
Auguste comte (1798-1857) - -stability and change
French intellectual who coined the term "sociology"
How and why do societies change?
Positivism enabled a deeper understanding of human life and was the key to solving
persistent social problems
Positivism - -a belief that accurate knowledge must be based on the scientific method
Herbert spencer (1820-1903) - -society as a social organism
Sociology
, Sociology
Theorized that society is made up of different parts, each with its own function, that
work together to sustain the entire organism
"survival of the fittest"
Karl marx (1818-1883) - -the effects of capitalism
Theorized that the exploitation of workers would eventually become so extreme that
wage laborers would rise up and overthrow the capitalist system
Socialism - -a system in which ownership of the major means of production- such as
factories, utilities, and railways- is in public, rather than private, hands and government
directs the use of productive forces of industry for the public good
Emile durkheim - -social solidarity
Established sociology as an academic discipline
Core of his theory was that society is held together by shared cultural values
Social solidarity - -the collective bonds that connect individuals
Mechanical solidarity - -social cohesion based on shared experience and a common
identity with limited individuality
Division of labor - -people specialize in different tasks, each requiring specific tasks
Collective conscience - -shared values of society
Anomie - -normalness without moral guidance
Max weber (1864-1920) - -the protestant ethic and the rationalization of modern life
Tried to understand social action by viewing it from the perspective of the actor
Theorized that tradition primarily influenced the actions of people
Tradition - -beliefs and customs often charged with emotional significance that are
passed from generation to generation
Rationality - -the use of reason and logical calculation to achieve a goal as efficiently as
possible
Rationalization of society - -the long-term historical process by which rationality
replaced tradition as the basis for organizing social and economic life
Sociology