Study Guide 6 Conflict PDF

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Study Guide #6 -- Conflict Theory – C. Wright Mills C. Wright Mills "The Promise" 1. Mills argued that the promise of sociology lies in its ability to provide more than just information about the world around us. What can it also provide from his point of view? - From Mill’s perspective, the promise of sociology can provide a ‘quality of mind’ that allows for the information received to have better use for what is occurring in the world. This quality enables man to develop thoughts more logically and allows them to be more aware of the realities of the world. 2. What is the sociological imagination as seen by Mills? - According to Mills, the sociological imagination is the quality mindset that allows one to look at oneself and accurately realize their circumstances, his place in society, and what he contributes to society. Additionally, it is the ability to understand how history and biography are intertwined and significant to society. 3. What kinds of questions should sociologists ask, according to Mills, in developing their analyses of society? - According to Mills, the three types of questions that sociologists should be asking themselves include: (1)’ What is the structure of this society as a whole?’ (2) ‘Where does this society stand in human history?’ (3) ‘What varieties of men and women now prevail in this society and in this period?’. 4. What did Mills say about personal troubles and social issues? - Mills believed that personal troubles and social issues were able to be clearly differentiated by the sociological imagination. Mills thought that personal troubles are private to an individual and are limited to those they have direct relations with. On the other hand, social issues are larger than one’s own life, a public matter, and usually is about a crisis than affects a grand population/institution. 5. Mills contended that there were three major trends in sociology at the time of his writing. Please briefly describe each of these three. - The three major trends that Mills mentioned are: - 1. Theories tend encompass historical and systematic aspects. Indicating that they mention things of the past while still incorporating and the regularities of life. - 2. Social relations can and should be classified to give insight on the features of those relationships and outcomes. - 3. Empirical social facts and problems are the main part of sociology that should be studied.

"On Politics" 6. Is it possible, according to Mills, for social scientists to engage in research without working toward any specific political goals? Please explain. - According to Mills, it is not possible for social scientist to engage in research without having a specific political goal in mind. He believes this to be true because when conducting any sort of research, some initial bias/values must be found that shape the researchers experiment. 7. Mills outlines three overriding political ideals that are common to sociological inquiry. What are these three ideals or values? - Mills’ three overriding political ideals/values are (1) the value of truth/fact (2) value of reason of human affairs (3) human freedom. 8. He also lists three roles that the social scientist can play in relation to public affairs. What are these three roles, and what does he think of each of these three? - The three roles Mills sees social scientist playing in public affairs are human reason, to become an advisor to the royals, and to be independent and choose their own work while still directing the research toward the public and royals. 9. Does Mills believe that human history is shaped simply by fate? What does he offer as an alternative explanation? - Mills believes that man makes his own destiny but he makes it in circumstances that he did not create himself, but the ones that were laid out for him. He thinks history/life events are beyond any human decision. 10. What did Mills say about intellectuals in the U.S. and the former Soviet Union? - Mill stated that the most impactful history-making was occurring during that time. And that those new historic event events seemed to be made out of one’s own agency, it still governed by some type of fate. 11. What did Mills see as the main political task of the social scientist in today's world? - Mills believed that the main political task of the current social scientist was to address the other types men that have power that Mills described. These men are those with power and awareness, those whose actions have major consequences yet are unaware of them, and those who traditionally do not have power and are only aware of the local issues.

- Sometimes the status quo is not good…. - Main concern: inequality - Goes in and see how has the power, what roles does each person/group have What did Mills believe about the main political task: wanted us to be independent and to educate...