Chapter 1 Understanding the Sociological Imagination PDF

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Chapter 1 Understanding the Sociological Imagination Pages 2- 29 (25-52) Objectives

1. The Sociological Perspective sociology: the systematic study of human groups and their interactions sociological perspective: a view of society based on the dynamic relationships between individuals and the larger social network in which we all live 2. Charles Wright Mills and the sociological imagination - ppl who do not, or cannot recognize the social origins and character of their problems may be unable to respond to them effectively o Failing to appreciate how ppls challenges are influenced by larger social forces diminishes ppls ability to understand + resolve them o Ind and social are linked  cannot understand one wo the other Personal troubles: personal challenges that require ind solutions Ex: midterm Social issues: challenges caused by larger social factors that require collective solutions Ex: entire class failing - Many personal troubles never become social issues bc ppl rarely equate their problem w the larger social worlds - Not seeing failure as partially, or entirely, the result of social forces is to lack the quality of mind (nothing to do with ppls intelligence or education level, but its the ability to view personal circumstance within a social context) o Quality of mind imp: thinking beyond ones own condition - Sociologist need to expose ppl to the sociological imagination (ability to understand the dynamic relationship btwn ind lives and larger society, how dynamic social forces inf ind lives) o Step out of own condition and look from new perspective (product of family, income, race, gender)  who am I, why do I think the way I do? o Requires us to think about ourselves differently  more informed about social forces that come together o See own histories in social context  improve quality of mind - Ppl who judge others wo understanding all issues, lack quality of mind (black and white) o Cheerful robots: ppl unwilling or unable to see social world as it exists - Understand ppl thru sociological imagination  few things are black and white - Peter Berger: sociological perspective: view world from 2 distinct yet complementary perspectives (see general in particular and strange in familiar)

3. Peter Berger: seeing the general in the particular - See general in particular: ability to look at seemingly unique events and recognize the larger features involved - Appreciate ind event and broaden perspective to larger social patterns that create and perpetuate ppls lives Seeing the strange in the familiar - Ex: Why do we need to write tests? Do grades reflect intelligence? - Seeing strange in familiar: evidence of sociological perspective, having quality of mind, begin to develop sociological imagination What makes you, you? Engaging the sociological imagination - Ppl have agency: assumption that ind have the ability to alter their socially constructed lives - Structure: network of relatively stable opportunities and constraints influencing ind behaviors o Not only large social parameters (occupation, minority status), but also small interaction btwn ind (ex: gay couple) - Structure vs agency: whether ind behave autonomously or are the expressive agents of the social structure o We are ind, but also the culmination of social forces

 Social force: minority status - Visible minority, LGBTQA, physical or mental disability face discrimination o Would being a member of these groups inf ppls view of themselves? - Social experiences inf the person ppl become  Social force: gender - Patriarchy: sys where men control political and economic resources of society - Many ppl may believe that they live in a more equitable society  why? - Honor killings: way to control women, part of a larger pattern of violence against women  Social force: socioeconomic status - Socioeconomic status (SES): combination of variables (income, education, occupation) used to rank ppl into a hierarchical structure - Wealthy families have adv over poorer - Ascribed status: attributes assigned at birth (sex) o Being born to wealthy family has nothing to do w ind qualities - Achieved status: attributes throughout life as result of effort and skill - Ppls beginnings inf what they can become  Social force: family structure - Childrens’ well-beings associate to household income - Family structure inf a childs development to the extent that female lone parent families tend to have lower income than 2 parent family structures  Social force: urban-rural differences - Differences: access to health care, diversity in entertainment and cultural events - Nature of growing in either location is more subtle and contextual -

Privilege comes w social responsibility bc gained privilege not bc of accomplishments but bc of birth

The origins of sociology

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Sophists (Greek educators) travelled and catered to the rich, who wanted to learn how to live well o First to put efforts to humans, contrast w earlier tradition to understand physical world Later philosophers (Socrates, Plato) challenged being paid for education, and deeper reflection of human social condition ‘Sociology’ coined by Auguste Comte: father of sociology

4. Three revolutions: the rise of sociology - Emergence of sociology: product of time - New science was needed to understand and manage social change THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION - Renaissance (14-17th century): development of scientific method during enlightenment period facilitated pace of social change - Auguste Comte: techniques in hard sciences to explain physical world should be applied to social world o To understand society’s inner workings: understand how human thinking change w time o Law of 3 stages: identifies how mind advances create 3 types of society  1. Theological stage  longest period of human thinking (earliest human ancestors to middle ages - 1300)  characterized by religious outlook: world and human society are expressions of gods will, science is a means to discover gods intentions  explanations through spiritual or supernatural beings  ended w renaissance and enlightenment (science explanations)  2. Metaphysical stage ‘beyond physics’  understanding of truth and the relationship btwn mind and matter  question everything, challenge power + teachings of Church  assumption that ppl can understand + explain universe through own insight and reflection  explore ‘conscious person’  experience world through emotion and beauty o artists capture insight to human condition through images, words  3. positive stage  world interpreted through scientific lens, society guided by rules of observation, experimentation, logic - however only having 3 stages is difficult, assumes human thinking is good as its going to get 5. positivism positivism: theoretical approach that considers all understanding to be based on science assumptions: 1. there exists an objective and knowable reality o physical and social world can be understood through observation, experimentation and logic  reality is objective and beyond ind interpretation or manipulation  chair is not a puppy  subjectivity is the attribution of emotional or subjective interpretations  more to a chair than functions, fav chair o have capacity to understand our objective world, physical and social existence is knowable 2. since all sciences explore the same, singular reality, over time all sciences will become more alike o only one correct explanation for the physical and social worlds o discipline and scientific boundaries disappear, realize that all science investigates same reality o in future, only 1 science? 3. there is no room in science for value judgements o no good, bad science, only from dif perspectives o all science is valuable for furthering understanding of world

anti-positivism: theoretical approach that considers knowledge and understanding to be the result of human subjectivity assumptions: 1. while hard science may be useful for exploring the physical world, the social world cannot be understood solely through numbers and formulas o positivists’ formulas used to explain the universe have only meaning when collectively assigned social value (numbers have relative importance) 2. all sciences will not merge over time and no single methodological approach (i.e. science) can reach a complete understanding of our world o to truly understand the human condition: need to appreciate + validate emotions, values, human subjectivity o find more areas to research  science becomes more unique 3. science cannot be separated from our values o values: cultural assessments that identify something as right, desirable, and moral o what we choose to study is a social expression Quantitative and qualitative sociology - positivists belief that science and experimentation has the highest worldly insight is consistent w quantitative sociology: study of behaviors that can be measured - anti-positivists exploration thru human engagement is w qualitative sociology: study of non-measureable subjective behaviors THE POLITICAL REVOLUTION - separate teachings from the church after renaissance  society endorse democratic principles - human behavior is motivated by self-interest and insatiable desire for material gain o controversial position, those in power were there bc of divine right o can become noble w opportunity  challenged establishment of time Rene Descartes: ‘I think, therefore I am’ o ppl understand world through rational reflection o masters of our own destiny - Thomas Hobbes: true nature of human is self-preservation. Long-term stability can be achieved only when ppl join together and forgo ind power to the gains achieved in collective - John Locke: ideas are not innate, all knowledge is result of experience o ppl are born as blank slates, only way to have more info on material world thru science and experimentation - Jean-Jaques Rousseau: prior to organized society, beings existed in a natural state where ind’s desire was solitary and self-centered o as society developed they saw benefits from collaboration, but lose some independence (benefits > costs) - ideas challenge tradition, nobility  lead to American and French revolution THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION - changed family structure, occupation, ppls thoughts - agricultural economy: produce food required to survive wo making more for trade o economy was local - move from local production and consumption to regional and national distribution - expansion of trading networks  agricultural to industrial - steam engine: jobs  rural to urban environment  new social problems (poverty, crime) 6. macro and microsociology

macrosociology: study of sociology as a whole (society 1st, ind 2nd) microsociology: study of ind or small group dynamics within a larger society (ind 1st, society 2nd) EARLY EUROPEAN MACROTHEORISTS: MARX, DURKHEIN, WEBER - sys-wide phenomena (class structure, education sys) Marx - ppl forced into competition w others bc of material changes from wealth accumulation in early agricultural societies  lead to conflict bc of indifference - all human relationships in capitalist economies have power imbalances - power also inf how classes of ppl interact Durkheim - ppl wanted to work together for collective benefit - new urban and industrial society has many challenges to both ind and collective - low levels of social integration and regulation were sources of various social problems (suicide rates) - institutions of religion and education have potential to lessen decline in moral society Weber - social world becoming increasingly rationalized over time o ppl more focused on selecting most efficient means to accomplish the end o rationalization makes society more productive and efficient o but ppl can act like machines, don’t appreciate larger social world EARLY AMERICAN MICROTHEORISTS: MEAD, COOLEY, BLUMER - ind and how they behave in particular face to face social networks - lived realities and then generalize their social relevance Mead - ind mind and self, rise out of social process of communication, become ourselves thru social interaction - symbolic interactionism: perspective asserting that ppl and societies are defined and created thru the interactions of inds - reflective of American constitutions commitment to preserving ind rights and freedom Cooley - ppl define in part themselves by how others view them - we become the person we believe others see us to be Blumer - meaning, language, and thought: how ppl create their sense of self within the larger social world

7. sociology in Canada - American dominance over sociology is mainly due to its size - 4 defining features that distinguish it from American tradition: Geography and regionalism - Canadian geography inf its sociology o Ability to survive over time o Development and maintenance of community in face of hostile elements and outside forces - Role of regionalism in countrys development (east vs west) - Inf of catholic church in Quebec faded due to ‘quiet revolution’, replaced w expanded provincial bureaucracy - Francophone sociologists more likely to see themselves as ‘agents of change’ than Anglophone sociologists Focus on political economy

Political economy: interactions of politics, government and governing, and the social and cultural constitution of markets, institutions, and actors - Intellectual pursuit: attempt to seek out tensions and contradictions within society to form basis for social change - Development based on exploitation of raw materials sent to European countries to fuel industry - Materials returned at inflated prices - Being subordinate economic position to America and Europe  menial role of wood and water - Society defined by ‘canada is not one of the world major economic or social forces’ Canadianization movement - American soc inf canadian soc o Interactionist approach, focus on social reform, collective social responsibility - Pressure to hire and train more can. Sociologists Radical nature - Greater focus on macrosociology and support for feminist ideas and social change’ - Never shied away from uncovering hidden power structutres that inf and guide society - Emergence of canadianization and womens movement led to politics of knowledge - Womens movement inspired new generation of women to reflect on social surroundings and question social convention - Inf of movement on early women pioneers: critique own intellectual foundations - Canadian more critical than American EARLY CANADIAN SOCIOLOGISTS Annie maclean - First can women to receive a PhD in sociology Sir Herbert Ames - Improve plight of poor Carl dawson - Wrote sociology textbook Harold innis - Analysis of Canadian political economy through his staples thesis hypothesis and his studies of media theory - Linkage btwn material goods, regionalism, and political superstructure - Division of media biases and how they inf society o Time bias: stable society over time bu fixed in geographic location o Space bias: more flexible and precise form of communication that is easy to transport over great distances Aileen Ross - Gender roles S.D. Clark - Instrumental to the development of soc Helen abell - Founder of rural soc in can

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Work on farm families and effects of modernization, contributions of farm women, decline of family farming Recognition of the efforts of farm wives was an invaluable contribution to public consciousness and policymakers

Kathleen herman - Supporter of womens rights John porter - Equality in can and use of power by Canadas bureaucratic, economic, and political elites - Challenged impression that can was classless w no barriers to opportunity Ruth morris - Abolish penal sys in favour of an alternative justice sys -

Cannot assume that soc is interested in only western industrialized nations Soc today must take a broader look at human experience and appreciate the imp of global perspective

8. Sociology in a global perspective Globalization: worldwide process involving the production, distribution, and consumption of technological, political, economic and sociocultural goods and services on a global basis Marshall McLuhan: global village: electronic media collapse space and time and enable people everywhere to interact - World is increasingly interconnected and intermingled - News presented in real time  world feels like smaller place - Media collapse space and time and enable ppl to interact and experience life - Tech shrunk globe, perceive closeness that transcends traditional boundaries of time and space - Implies realization of primacy of capitalism as a defining feature of the global economy - Soc can investigate human phenomena from local, ind realities to global, collective consciousness

Auguste Comte - positivism Ibn Khaldun - first social philosopher Peter Berger - idea of seeing the strange in the familiar Jean-Jacques Rousseau - social contract Margrit Eichler - politics of knowledge John Porter - Canadian vertical mosaic C. Wright Mills - sociological imagination Charles Horton Cooley - looking-glass self Marshall McLuhan - global village René Descartes - “I think, therefore I am.”...