Sociological Theory

Not as boring as it sounds!

Origins of Sociology

• Sociology as a discipline is the product of two dramatic social changes:

1. The Enlightenment

2. The Industrial Revolution

The Enlightenment (18th c.)

• “Age of Reason”• Emergence of the ideal of political liberty– Societies that were more democratic began to

replace monarchies• Political revolutions– French and American revolutions (1789 & 1776)

• Rise of science and rational thought– Ascendance of science, diminishing importance of

“the church”

Industrial Revolution (19th c.)

• Shift from agrarian to industrial• Urbanization—“push and pull” economy• Extremes of wealth and poverty

I’m going to briefly expound upon the Industrial Revolution,as I think it is important for understanding the milieux

out of which Sociology was born.

THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

Become one with the cogs!

Shift from the Agrarian World

• Agricultural Revolution – New farming methods invented, e.g. crop rotation.

• Enclosure movement had large land owners buying and then fencing public land.– Smaller farmers pushed off of land to work as wage

laborers for various land owners or to move to the growing cities.

• More food produced = population increase– In 1700 there were about 100 million people in Europe,

by 1800 the population had grown to 190 million.

Textile Industry Takes Off!!!

• Domestic system (cottage industry) had dominated the early 1700s; merchants dropped off raw materials at people’s homes, picked up finished products later.

• Series of inventions modernize textile manufacturing, including: – 1760 – Spinning Jenny (James Hargreaves) – Allowed

for multiple threads to be woven together. – 1793 – Cotton Gin (Eli Whitney) – Machine that

separated cotton seeds from the cotton.

Textile Industry Takes Off!!!

• These advancements resulted in the movement of work from the home to the factory.

Britain Industrializes First

• 1715-1850• Many natural resources available in Britain,

including large amounts of coal and iron.• Geographical advantages include a large river

system for water power and many natural harbors for easy trade.

• A strong, stable government allowed a strong, stable economy to develop which resulted in extra money to invest.

Britain Industrializes First

• COLONIAL EMPIRE! – colonies provided much needed raw materials and markets.

The Revolution Spreads

• To continental Europe, USA, and Japan between 1850 and 1914.

SLAV

ERY!

!!

Changes Brought by theIndustrial Revolution

• Inventions change the way we live and work, e.g. steam engine in 1763.

• Transportation and communication systems are greatly enhanced, e.g. trains, telegraph.

• Cities begin to dominate the western world.• Creates a new social order with the rise of an influential

middle class.• Poor working conditions for lower classes eventually lead

to new social and political movements.• Desire for markets and resources entice Europeans to take

over foreign lands (imperialism).

Key Figures inSociological Theory

Now let us move on to:

Research Project!YAAAAAAAAAAAAY!

Emile DurkheimKarl Marx

Max Weber

Key Figures in Sociological Theory

• Biography• Key problems focused on• Key concepts developed• Key works written and/or Key actions taken• More?

“Do not fear mistakes.There are none.”

--Miles Davis

Key Figures in Sociological Theory

• Emile Durkheim, Karl Marx, and Max Weber– Biography– Key problems focused on– Key concepts developed– Key works written and/or key actions taken– More?