Module: Understanding Social Change
Seminar 1 – Introducing Theory
You can’t understand society unless you have a theory about it.
Theory helps you to see why things are created and why certain ways are adopted.
Theories are essential.
The Enlightenment
Moving away from religion towards science
The English civil war was an important moment
Relying on reason rather than rigid doctrines
The Enlightenment Era was the era of man's emergence from his self-imposed
misguidedness towards scientific and independent exploration.
Enlightenment is a different way of understanding society
The King was supposed to be the god embodiment on earth
It changed the politics, the arts (people expressing themselves in different ways).
It caused a fundamental change in society
It was about reason rather than religion
It allowed modernity to come about – it brought about urbanisation,
industrialisation, capitalism, scientific thinking and logic.
What does Capitalism mean? It is an economic system. It was not one that was
originally planned. It kind of came about as an accident.
Who was the creator on the notion of Capitalism? Adam Smith
Structure/Agency
There are different levels of looking at things
Structure – macro level of looking at society, grand theories in society.
, Agency – micro level, individuals and how they themselves experience and cope
with day to day life in society.
When discussing the structure (macro theory) of a scenario, you’re referring to
how it relates to large-scale issues and large groups of people. Whereas when
discussing at very specific relationships between individuals or small groups, the
agency (micro theory) of a scenario, you’re referring to very specific relationships
between individuals or small groups.
Women jogging in the park – Structure?
Feels free to help herself both physically and mentally
She keeps running, minding her own business
Jogging is a sport in its own right
Pressure of the society to exercise and stay fit
She wants the perfect body to fit into society
It was not an important structural issue of the day back then
Gain good health through keeping fit
During this pandemic, we have been advised to exercise which is more for the
benefit of the health of society.
Women jogging in the park – Agency?
She wants to improve her fitness and health
She’s jogging for her own pleasure. She’s not motivated by external things.
She wants the perfect body to feel comfortable with herself.
She wants to self-improve
Doing it for our own needs rather than because society tells me to do so.
Person in a suit queuing for the bus to work – Structure?
Queuing is a structural issue in society. Queuing in a line maintains social order.
Society expects you to have a good job
Person has to work to earn money
Seminar 1 – Introducing Theory
You can’t understand society unless you have a theory about it.
Theory helps you to see why things are created and why certain ways are adopted.
Theories are essential.
The Enlightenment
Moving away from religion towards science
The English civil war was an important moment
Relying on reason rather than rigid doctrines
The Enlightenment Era was the era of man's emergence from his self-imposed
misguidedness towards scientific and independent exploration.
Enlightenment is a different way of understanding society
The King was supposed to be the god embodiment on earth
It changed the politics, the arts (people expressing themselves in different ways).
It caused a fundamental change in society
It was about reason rather than religion
It allowed modernity to come about – it brought about urbanisation,
industrialisation, capitalism, scientific thinking and logic.
What does Capitalism mean? It is an economic system. It was not one that was
originally planned. It kind of came about as an accident.
Who was the creator on the notion of Capitalism? Adam Smith
Structure/Agency
There are different levels of looking at things
Structure – macro level of looking at society, grand theories in society.
, Agency – micro level, individuals and how they themselves experience and cope
with day to day life in society.
When discussing the structure (macro theory) of a scenario, you’re referring to
how it relates to large-scale issues and large groups of people. Whereas when
discussing at very specific relationships between individuals or small groups, the
agency (micro theory) of a scenario, you’re referring to very specific relationships
between individuals or small groups.
Women jogging in the park – Structure?
Feels free to help herself both physically and mentally
She keeps running, minding her own business
Jogging is a sport in its own right
Pressure of the society to exercise and stay fit
She wants the perfect body to fit into society
It was not an important structural issue of the day back then
Gain good health through keeping fit
During this pandemic, we have been advised to exercise which is more for the
benefit of the health of society.
Women jogging in the park – Agency?
She wants to improve her fitness and health
She’s jogging for her own pleasure. She’s not motivated by external things.
She wants the perfect body to feel comfortable with herself.
She wants to self-improve
Doing it for our own needs rather than because society tells me to do so.
Person in a suit queuing for the bus to work – Structure?
Queuing is a structural issue in society. Queuing in a line maintains social order.
Society expects you to have a good job
Person has to work to earn money
