SOC 402 Sociological Theory What is Sociological theory

SOC 402 Sociological Theory What is Sociological theory? When and Where and How did it Develop?

Orientation • • • Who am I? What am I doing here? How did I get here? Why am I here? So What? What do I do next? • These questions motivate social theory

What is Sociological Theory? • What is sociology? • What is theory? • Why does it develop when and where it does? • When do people ask these questions?

Sociological Theory • sociological theory is – a set of assumptions, assertions and propositions – organized in the form of an explanation or interpretation – of the nature, form, or content of social action • action that takes others into account

Why did Sociology Develop • When? – Late 19 th century • Where? – Western Europe and U. S. • How? – Protracted revolutionary struggles – Orthogonal debates within sociology • Why? Sociology and the institutional order

National and Regional Effects • Revolution and the instituted social order – Glorious Revolution in England – Protracted French and German struggles • Instituted political debates – British and U. S. : Liberals and conservatives – French and German: Liberals versus reactionaries (Bonaparte and Hitler) • Orthogonal, extra-institutional sociology – Radicals in the U. S. ?

Philosophical and Political Dimensions • Institutionalized political debate – Liberals versus reactionaries – Conservative versus liberals • Sociological debate – Radicals versus conservatives – Conservatives versus liberals

Underlying Assumptions Toward Institutional Order optimist pessimist Toward optimist Liberal Radical Common pessimist Conservative Reactionary People based on Tom Ruth, California Government class, Grossmont J. C. , 1970

Summary • social theory is explanation/interpretation rooted in – underlying assumptions – assertions – propositions • Sociology develops – In Wake of Revolutionary change – As Orthogonal debate with instituted politics