General Sociology: Basic Principles
Objectives
It is intended that students acquire:
1) A fondness for sociology and the necessary dispositions for sociological reflection;
2) Ability to critically deconstruct "common sense" pre-notions which present themselves as obstacles to sociological knowledge;
3) Knowledge and understanding of the central assumptions of sociology as the science of social phenomena;
4) Knowledge and understanding of some of the central perspectives of sociological theory;
5) Knowledge and understanding of some basic concepts of sociology;
6) Ability of theoretical articulation between these concepts;
7) Ability to apply these perspectives and concepts in the analysis of relevant sociological topics and in the study of concrete empirical situations;
8) Ability to apply knowledge acquired in the framework of general sociology in specialized sociologies.
General characterization
Code
711081050
Credits
6.0
Responsible teacher
Luís Miguel da Silva de Almeida Chaves
Hours
Weekly - 4
Total - 168
Teaching language
Portuguese
Prerequisites
Available soon
Bibliography
Berger, Peter. 1986. Perspetivas Sociológicas. Uma Visão Humanística. Vozes: Petrópolis.
Berger, Peter, e Luckmann, Thomas. 2004. A Construção Social da Realidade. Tratado de Sociologia do Conhecimento. Lisboa: Dinalivro.
Dahrendorf, Ralf. 1969. Homo Sociologicus. Ensaio Sobre a História, o Significado e a Crítica da Categoria de Papel Social. Rio de Janeiro: Tempo Brasileiro.
Giddens, Anthony. 2008. Sociologia. Lisboa: F.C. Gulbenkian.
Nunes, Adérito Sedas. 1979. Sobre o Problema do Conhecimento nas Ciências Sociais. Lisboa: GIS.
Nunes, Adérito Sedas. 1980. Questões Preliminares Sobre as Ciências Sociais. Lisboa: Presença.
Turner, Jonathan. H. 1994. Sociology: Concepts and Uses. Nova Iorque: McGraw-Hill.
Teaching method
TEACHING METHOD:
The work is developed through theoretical classes (60%), supported by exercises to be carried out in the classroom and open to the participation and critical intervention of students; and practical classes (40%), mainly based on the discussion and debate of specific themes or texts.
Evaluation method
EVALUATION METHOD:
This UC has individual and group assessments. Ratings assigned to groups revert to the individual rating and are the same for any of the members. The individual assessment consists of a written test (50%). The groups' evaluation results from the discussion of three texts in class (30%) and a written work on one of these texts (20%).
Subject matter
1. An invitation to Sociology.
1.1. What is Sociology? Definition of Sociology. Sociology and social sciences. General and specialized sociology.
1.2. Why sociology is done and what are its uses.
1.3. Doing sociology. The break with “common sense”. The importance of theory and method. Transversal assumptions of a pluriparadigmatic science.
2. The social world as a structured reality in permanent construction.
2.1. Construction of the social world from the practices of social actors.
2.2. Institutionalization and development of institutions.
2.3. Values, norms, social roles and sanctions.
2.4. Legitimation of institutions.
2.5. Conservation and reproduction of institutions and the institutional order
2.6. Frameworks and processes of socialization.
3. Incursion into three central and basic perspectives of sociological theory: functionalism; conflict perspectives and symbolic interactionism.
3.1. Presentation, confrontation and articulation of perspectives.
3.2. The different perspectives in the analysis of sociological themes.
Programs
Programs where the course is taught: