Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences Course No. 1: Sociological Theory- I

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1 Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences Course No. 1: Sociological Theory- I M.A. (Total Credits: 4) Teacher/Instructor: Dev N Pathak (dev@soc.sau.ac.in) Course Description: This course offers a critical engagement with the classical thinkers in sociology. The discussions on the key classical literatures, of Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim and Max Weber, are located in a historical background and thereof key epistemic categories. It is in this sense that the category of modernity, common sense and sociology, art and science, structure and agency, economy and ideology, industrialization and ensuing changes, constitute a recurrent motif. A synoptic view of the epistemological shifts, changes in value orientation and intellectual engagement with the changed and changing milieu also shape the background. The course unfolds an integration of theoretical approaches, classical literatures, and historically significant sociological thinkers. For example, Durkheim will be discussed with reference to the selected classical texts, in a manner to characterize the functionalist approach. Hence, this paper is not only about thinkers, its about the thoughts and the discourse that they invite us for. It is thus aimed at honing the skills for and interest of reading the classics, raising a discourse and participating in the same, comprehending the theoretical import of the sociological classics, and also understanding as to what could be termed the sociological. Lastly, the course unfolds a modicum of critique of the chosen classical theories that paved way for the contemporary sociological approaches. It is also in a way to assure the possibility of contextualizing the classical theories, as something that is not a fossilized theoretical antiquity. By doing so, critique ceases to be a polemical debunking and it seeks to kindle an interest in students for further contextualization and theory- building. In this backdrop, the course has a tripartite structural design, with each unit aiming to attain aforementioned objectives. Unit 1 (10 hours) The historical Conditions and Epistemological revolution leading to the rise of Sociology in general and sociological theories in particular offer an onset of engagement with the theoretical premise. This section will be focused on the same with special emphasis upon the following tenets: Modernity and Sociology Common sense, Art and Science Relevance of theory and concepts Relevance of (reading) the classics The sociological Trinity: A profile 1

2 Suggested Readings Nisbet, R.A The Sociological Tradition. London: Heinemann. P Hall, Stuart et al Formations of Modernity. Oxford: Polity, p Hall, Stuart, et al Modernity and its Futures. Cambridge: Polity. P Bottomore, T B Sociology as Social Criticism. London, George Allen and Unwin, P Timasheff, N.S., Sociological Theory, Nature and Growth. New York: Random House. P Nisbet, R Sociology as an Art Form, Oxford: OUP. P. 3-8 & Bauman, Zigmunt and Tim May (2001). Thinking Sociologically. Oxford: Blackwell Berger, Peter Invitation to Sociology: A Humanistic Perspective. Anchor Books Bottomore, TB and Nisbet, R The history of Sociological Analysis. London: Heinemann. Beteille, Andre Sociology: Essays and Approach and Method. New Delhi: OUP, P Turner, Bryan S Classical Sociology. Delhi: Sage, p Zeitlin. Irving M Ideology and the development of sociological theory. New Jersey: Prentice Hall. P & Hadden, Richard W Sociological Theory: An introduction to Classical tradition. New York: Broadview Press. P & Levine, Donal N Visions of the Sociological Tradition. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press Coser, Louis Masters of Sociological Thought (2nd Ed). New York: Harcourt, Brace Jovanovich Allan, Kenneth The Social Lens: An Invitation to Social and Sociological Theory. Pine Forge Press Adorno, Theodor Introduction of Sociology. Cambridge: Polity Press Mannheim, Karl. 1982, Structures of Thinking. London: Routledge Mark A. Schneider The Theory Primer: A Sociological Guide. Rowman and Littlefield Unit 2 (40 hours) Supported by an introductory background, this section will present key classical theories, namely of Emile Durkheim, Karl Marx, and Max Weber. While the mainstay of discussion will be the classical literatures, the thrust will be toward key thematic issues thereof. The intent will be to develop a fuller understanding of the fundamentals of the theoretical approaches originated to the texts. Such as within functionalism, Marxism and Historicism, originated to the respective literature, the recurrent themes would be agency and structure, notion of history and society, economy and ideology, labour and capitalism, evolution and change. Also, each classical literature will usher in the realm of discourse with specific conceptual 2

3 threads, such as Division of Labor in society will offer the notions of solidarity, collective conscience et cetra. Thereby, this unit aims to inculcate not only a predilection for the classical texts, but also a habit of participating in theoretical discourse. The unit will unfold in the following manner: Suggested Readings Functionalism Division of Labor in Society Elementary forms of Religious life Marxism The Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1855 The Communist Manifesto Das Capital- I Durkheim, E (Translated by W D Halls) The Division of Labour in Society. London: Macmillan. Durkheim, E (Translated by Carol Cosman) The Elementary Forms of Religious Life. Oxford: OUP Marx, K The Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of Mascow: Progress Publishers, P Marx, K Capital - Vol. I. Moscow: Progress Publishers (Chapter 1, 10 and 14). Marx, K. and F. Engels The Manifesto of the Communist Party. New York: International Publications. P Radcliffe- Brown, A.R Structure and Function in Primitive Society. London: Cohen and West. (Chapters 9, 10) Nisbet, Robert Emile Durkheim: Makers of modern social science. New Jersey: Prentice Hall. P. 9-28, & Bottomore, TB & Rubel, M Karl Marx: Selected writings in Sociology and Social Philosophy. New York: McGraw Hill. P Bottomore, T B Karl Marx, Early Writings. McGrew Hill: New York Bottomore, T B and Nisbet, R The history of Sociological Analysis. London: Heinemann. P , & Timasheff, N.S., Sociological Theory, Nature and Growth. New York: Random House. P & Giddens, Anthony Capitalism and Modern Social Theory: An Analysis of the Writings of Marx, Durkheim and Max Weber. Cambridge Aaron, Raymond Main Currents in Sociological thought- vol. 1. New York: Doubleday Main currents in Sociological thought- vol. 2. Transaction publishers: New Jersey Bourricaud, F The Sociology of Talcott Parsons. Chicago: University of Chicago Press (Chapters 1, 2). 3

4 Zeitlin. Irving M Ideology and the development of sociological theory. New Jersey: Prentice Hall. P Thompson, M A Readings from Emile Durkheim. London: Routledge. P & Hadden, Richard W Sociological Theory: An introduction to Classical tradition. New York: Broadview Press. P Unit 3 (20 hours) With Max Weber, a hermeneutic turn in classical sociology is evident. Thereby, a critical engagement with the grand narratives of Functionalism and Marxism follows from Weberian historicism. Not only the question of rational meaning, social actions, capitalism and ideology, but an overall reflection on what is sociology surfaces. This unit therefore is dedicated in entirety to hermeneutic orientation with which Weber would be offering not only a methodological suggestion on what sociology ought to be doing, but also a different take on capitalism, religion, and rationalization. In addition to Weber s contribution, this section will also gear up toward broader critiques of the classical sociology. The synoptic view of the critique is aimed at contextualizing the theoretical approaches too. Historicism The Protestant ethics and Spirit of Capitalism Economy and Society Suggested Readings Synoptic view of Critique Postmodernism Subaltern Study & Feminism Weber, M Economy and Society: An outline interpretative sociology (edited by G. Roth and C. Wittich) - Vol. 1. Berkeley: University of California Press. (Part- I, Chapters 1, 2) Weber, M The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. Los Angeles: Blackwell Publishers Stuart Hall, et al Formations of Modernity. Oxford: Polity, p Hall, Stuart, et al Modernity and its Futures. Cambridge: Polity. P Zygmunt Bauman Towards a Critical Sociology: An Essay on common sense and emancipation. London: Kegan &Paul. P Sociological Enlightenment: For whom, about what?. Theory, Culture and Society, vol. 17, No. 2, April 2000, p Judith Stacey and Barrie Thorne The Missing Feminist Revolution in Sociology, Social Problems, Vol. 32, No. 4 (Apr., 1985), pp , URL: 4

5 Anne Witz Whose Body Matters? Feminist Sociology and the Corporeal Turn in Sociology and Feminism, Body & Society : 1, Pathak, Avijit Indian Modernity: Contradictions, Paradoxes and Possibilities. Delhi: Gyan Books. P & Appadurai, Arjun Modernity at large: Cultural dimensions of globalization. Minnesota: University of Minnesota Press. P Bauman, Zigmunt Hermeneutics and Social Science. London: Penguin Books Gerth, H. H. and C. W. Mills (eds.) From Max Weber: Essays in Sociology. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul. P Zeitlin. Irving M Ideology and the development of sociological theory. New Jersey: Prentice Hall. P Turner, Bryan S Classical Sociology. Delhi: Sage, p Timasheff, N.S., Sociological Theory, Nature and Growth. New York: Random House. P Hadden, Richard W Sociological Theory: An introduction to Classical tradition. New York: Broadview Press. P Modes of Evaluation: Internal and formative 40 marks In sync with the nature, scope and objective of this course, as evident in the above outline, geared to see text and context in one discursive prism, the formative evaluation will be along the following design: At the end of Unit 1 (5 marks) The class will be divided into groups with not more than 5 students in each. Each group will be picking up one theoretical stream for self- study. The group will function as an informal discussion group, and report to the course teacher on regular basis. Also, as the first written assignment each member of the group/s shall write a two page note on Theoretical value of My Biography. The note will be individually discussed with the teacher at the beginning of the unit 2. At the end of Unit 2 (5+10 marks) Each group will recommend an alternative text from different vernacular- regional- socio- cultural context, to contextualize the sociological theories. It could be a cinematic text, poetry, and work in fiction too. The group will meet regularly at informal level to brain- storm on chosen theoretical stream and the vernacular- 5

6 contextual literature/cinematic/popular text. The discussion shall lead the group to contextualize the theoretical stream with the help of vernacular text. Alternatively, the group may also choose to compare and contrast sociological classics with the work of any social thinker from south Asia. The group will have to choose a text related to south Asian thinker. Brainstorming on regular basis will be the essential device. Each group- member shall thereby develop a (term) paper, with an analysis of selected theoretical stream in the chosen context, or a comparative understanding of the classical thinker and the social thinker from South Asia. The course teacher shall be contacted and reported at every step of writing the term paper, such as selection and finalization of the title, process of writing, preparing bibliography, and the final drafting. A term paper shall be in not more than 3000 and less than 2000 words, in 12 font size, in times new roman, with 1.5 spacing. At the end of Unit 4 (20 marks) The class will organize a theory- building workshop, thematically titled The Sociological, wherein each group will present the term paper. Not only the presentations, but also the critical participation and engagement with one another through question and answers in the workshop, will be subject to evaluated. The workshop will end with a lecture by an invited guest teacher. Mid semester examination End semester examination 20 marks 40 marks 6