Sociological Theories: the Founders
Objectives
1. Knowledge and understanding of the main authors and trends in classical socology;
2. Ability to identify such theoretical trends in substantive theoretical propositions;
3. Understanding of the bearing of classical sociological theory on the debates on contemporary sociology;
4. Ability to comnicate the basics of those authors and sociological trends in a rigorous and significant way.
General characterization
Code
711081052
Credits
6.0
Responsible teacher
Helena Maria Rocha Serra
Hours
Weekly - 4
Total - 168
Teaching language
Portuguese
Prerequisites
Available soon
Bibliography
Bottomore, T. (1978). “Marxismo e sociologia”. In Bottomore, T. & Nisbet, R. História da análise sociológica. Rio de Janeiro: Zahar, pp. 166-204.
Connell, R.W. (1997). “Why is classical theory classical?”. Am. Jour. of Soc. 102, pp. 1511-1557.
Durkheim, É. (1995). As Regras do método sociológico. Lisboa: Editorial Presença.
Marx, K. & Engels, F. (1995). “A ideologia alemã”. In Cruz, M.B. (org) Teorias sociológicas: Os fundadores e os clássicos. Lisboa: Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, pp. 11-60.
Shils, E. (1980). “Tradition, ecology, and institution in the history of sociology”. In The calling of sociology and other essays on the pursuit of learning. Chicago: University of Chigago Press, pp. 165-257.
Simmel, G. (2004). Fidelidade e gratidão e outros textos. Lisboa: Relógio d’Água.
Turner, B.S. (1999). “The central themes of sociology: an introduction”. In Classical sociology. London: Sage, pp. 3-29.
Weber, Max (1995). Conceitos fundamentais de sociologia. Lisboa: Presença.
Teaching method
Theoretical/practical lectures based on support readings; analysis and discussion of theoretical texts; project research work. Grading will be based on:
- one test written in class (60% of the final grade)
- one written review of one cientific article indicated be the teaching team (40% of the final grade)
In class teaching.
Evaluation method
Theoretical-practical sessions made from the support materials; analysis and discussion of theoretical texts; research work. The assessment consists of the following forms and their gradings:
a) Attendance, participation in practical classes and group exercises (four elements): 30%.
b) Individual written test in class 70%
Subject matter
1. THE CONSTRUCTION OF SOCIOLOGY
Founding themes of sociological knowledge
The sociological positivism of Auguste Comte; Herbert Spencer’s Organic and Super-organic evolution; Democracy in Tocqueville
2. ÉMILE DURKHEIM
Societies and social fact
The origins of collective consciousness
The social division of labour
Egoism and anomie
3. KARL MARX AND FRIEDRICH ENGELS
The roots of Marxist thought
Alienation and dialectical and historical materialism
Marxist theory on ideology and social classes
The political economy of capitalism
Marxist theory: critical readings
4. MAX WEBER
Economy and social normativity
Social action, domination and legitimacy
Bureaucracy
Religious rationalities
5. GEORG SIMMEL
Formal sociology
The philosophy of money
Modernity and metropolises
The stranger
6. THE (DES) CONSTRUCTION OF SOCIOLOGY
The Founders Today: Who, Why, and How?
Institutionalization and Academic Autonomization of Sociology
The policies of invisibility
Programs
Programs where the course is taught: