History of Social Sciences:
Lecture notes
Lecture 1: Introduction
Premise: science is despite its flaws the best way of gaining insight into the world
o But is it the only way of knowing, asks Ellar?
No, week 6 lecture: art, music, literature, religion, indigenous knowledge etc.
o Some people say it's the only way, others say it is not a universal but a culturally specific
way, and others simply say our current method is not the best
The social status of science has dropped immensely, and the disrespect for scientific
knowledge is a constant element, it's status is declining slowly
o e.g. Oostvaardersplassen (grazing wild animals)
o But, the status is still high
o Social science is less respect than exact sciences because they are fundamentally
different
Some argue we are in a post-truth society:
o Pre-modern: given truth (it comes from the gods)
o Modern: found truth (Renaissance period)
o Postmodern: made truth
o Post-postmodern: truth as a marketable product ("waar is wat klikt")
Here you're offered knowledge that sounds right to you
Definition of science:
o "Science is the more or less systematic search for knowledge by experts, who need
to react to earlier knowledge and share their ideas with others"
o
Conclusion:
Science is despite its flaws the best way of gaining insight into the world
The status of science is declining
The status is still high, more so for exact science than social science
Science is an institutionalised practice
Lecture 2: Institutionalisation
Premise: Social science is an institutionalised practice
The concept of institutionalisation:
o "An institution is frozen answers to recurrent, fundamental questions" (Geert de Vries)
The idea is that all reality is socially constructed and that the sociology of knowledge must
analyse the process in which this occurs (Berger & Luckmann)
o Social order only exists as a product of human activity
All human activity is subject to habitualisation
o i.e. looking at the way a university operates for instance
Thomas theorem: 'If men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences
o We act accordingly to what you believe
If you believe Corona is fake, you act accordingly
, Individually we all try to make sense of the world, but we need to share our beliefs and
understandings to make them intersubjective
o An ongoing correspondence between my meanings and their meanings in this world
Institutionalisation occurs when there is a reciprocal typification of habitualised actions
o These habitualised actions are always shared
o When these acquire historicity (the feeling that it's always been like that), they then
acquire the quality of objectivity
They go above and beyond the mere individual who is doing it at that moment
o Institutions are seen as historical and objective, undeniable facts - they are external and
coercive
o We all think something is a fact but it's just a social construction
How do these subjective meanings become objective facts:
o Sanctions: if you don't comply there will be consequences
o Symbols: e.g. the "jasje" in the tweede kamer, symbolising who is in or out
o Roles: roles represent the institutional order, the institution is only real in so far as it is
realised in performed roles
You have the same role if you share the same knowledge about it
Karl Mannheim, generation: shared experiences can lead to institutionalisation
Agnotology:
o The investigation of the causes and effects of ignorance or knowledeglessness
Conclusion:
Both academic work in general and the respective disciplines are institutions
Institutionalisation occurs when there is a reciprocal typification (creation) of habitualised
actions
Discursive regimes, habitus, hegemony, generation, epistemic cultures and canon are other
terms describing aspects of institutionalisation
Social order only exists as a product of human activity
Lecture 3: Institutionalisation of sociology
Recap of concept of institutionalisation:
o Thomas theorem: when people define situations as real they become real in their
consequences
o Social order exists only as a product of human activity and all human activity is subject to
habitualisation
o Institutionalisation occurs when there is a reciprocal typification of habitualised actions
by types of acts
o With the acquisition of historicity, these formations also acquire the crucial quality of
objectivity
Sociology has become an institutionalised discipline (according to Ellar's book):
o Box with key organizations
o List of key journals
o Ancient origins
o Key thinkers
o Seminal works
o Box with research topics
o Section on idiosyncratic approach to terrorism
Ancestors of sociology:
Lecture notes
Lecture 1: Introduction
Premise: science is despite its flaws the best way of gaining insight into the world
o But is it the only way of knowing, asks Ellar?
No, week 6 lecture: art, music, literature, religion, indigenous knowledge etc.
o Some people say it's the only way, others say it is not a universal but a culturally specific
way, and others simply say our current method is not the best
The social status of science has dropped immensely, and the disrespect for scientific
knowledge is a constant element, it's status is declining slowly
o e.g. Oostvaardersplassen (grazing wild animals)
o But, the status is still high
o Social science is less respect than exact sciences because they are fundamentally
different
Some argue we are in a post-truth society:
o Pre-modern: given truth (it comes from the gods)
o Modern: found truth (Renaissance period)
o Postmodern: made truth
o Post-postmodern: truth as a marketable product ("waar is wat klikt")
Here you're offered knowledge that sounds right to you
Definition of science:
o "Science is the more or less systematic search for knowledge by experts, who need
to react to earlier knowledge and share their ideas with others"
o
Conclusion:
Science is despite its flaws the best way of gaining insight into the world
The status of science is declining
The status is still high, more so for exact science than social science
Science is an institutionalised practice
Lecture 2: Institutionalisation
Premise: Social science is an institutionalised practice
The concept of institutionalisation:
o "An institution is frozen answers to recurrent, fundamental questions" (Geert de Vries)
The idea is that all reality is socially constructed and that the sociology of knowledge must
analyse the process in which this occurs (Berger & Luckmann)
o Social order only exists as a product of human activity
All human activity is subject to habitualisation
o i.e. looking at the way a university operates for instance
Thomas theorem: 'If men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences
o We act accordingly to what you believe
If you believe Corona is fake, you act accordingly
, Individually we all try to make sense of the world, but we need to share our beliefs and
understandings to make them intersubjective
o An ongoing correspondence between my meanings and their meanings in this world
Institutionalisation occurs when there is a reciprocal typification of habitualised actions
o These habitualised actions are always shared
o When these acquire historicity (the feeling that it's always been like that), they then
acquire the quality of objectivity
They go above and beyond the mere individual who is doing it at that moment
o Institutions are seen as historical and objective, undeniable facts - they are external and
coercive
o We all think something is a fact but it's just a social construction
How do these subjective meanings become objective facts:
o Sanctions: if you don't comply there will be consequences
o Symbols: e.g. the "jasje" in the tweede kamer, symbolising who is in or out
o Roles: roles represent the institutional order, the institution is only real in so far as it is
realised in performed roles
You have the same role if you share the same knowledge about it
Karl Mannheim, generation: shared experiences can lead to institutionalisation
Agnotology:
o The investigation of the causes and effects of ignorance or knowledeglessness
Conclusion:
Both academic work in general and the respective disciplines are institutions
Institutionalisation occurs when there is a reciprocal typification (creation) of habitualised
actions
Discursive regimes, habitus, hegemony, generation, epistemic cultures and canon are other
terms describing aspects of institutionalisation
Social order only exists as a product of human activity
Lecture 3: Institutionalisation of sociology
Recap of concept of institutionalisation:
o Thomas theorem: when people define situations as real they become real in their
consequences
o Social order exists only as a product of human activity and all human activity is subject to
habitualisation
o Institutionalisation occurs when there is a reciprocal typification of habitualised actions
by types of acts
o With the acquisition of historicity, these formations also acquire the crucial quality of
objectivity
Sociology has become an institutionalised discipline (according to Ellar's book):
o Box with key organizations
o List of key journals
o Ancient origins
o Key thinkers
o Seminal works
o Box with research topics
o Section on idiosyncratic approach to terrorism
Ancestors of sociology:
