The Dead Sociologists Society Auguste Comte 1798 1857

The Dead Sociologists Society

Auguste Comte • 1798 -1857; was a French philosopher • Considered the “Father of Sociology” • Lived during the French Revolution – chaotic period so wanted to find solutions

• Studying social behavior would lead to more rational human interactions • Problems of order and change should be sociologists’ main concern • Influenced by the scientific method

• Believed a systematic investigation of behavior was needed to improve society • Gave Sociology its name • In the hierarchy of sciences, he placed Sociology on top • Functionalist or Interactionist

Karl Marx • 1818 – 1883; was a German philosopher • Lived during the Industrial Revolution (1820 -1895) – people work in factories, feel a loss of control, feel dominated & exploited by others

• Marx studied this class struggle & effects of capitalism • Conflict theorist • Rich (Bourgeoisie, Owner) vs. Poor (Proletariat, Worker) • Overall structure of society is influenced by how economy is organized

Herbert Spencer • 1820 -1903 – English philosopher • Functionalist – he did not feel compelled to correct or improve society • Most famous for applying Darwin’s theory of natural selection to people

• “Survival of the fittest” – some people are poor and some are rich (called Social Darwinism) • Societies are bound to change but this will happen gradually • Social change and unrest were natural occurrences in society’s evolution toward stability

Emile Durkheim • 1858 -1917 – French philosopher • Researched suicide • Studied suicide rates and how they varied from country to country • Found suicide was related to group life

• Studied the individual in the group setting - person who felt lack of cohesiveness in the group is more likely to commit suicide • Suicide rates of a society reflect the extent to which people were or were not integrated into the group life of the society

DO NOT NEED TO COPY THIS • Interesting stat: Durkheim found that there were higher rates of suicide in times of peace than in times of war and revolution…. . why do you think this is? ? ?

Max Weber • 1864 -1920 - German • To study behavior, we must learn the subjective meanings people attach to their actions – how they view and explain their own behavior • Need to study people’s emotions, thoughts, beliefs, & attitudes

• Ideal Type: construct a madeup model that serves as a measuring rod against which actual cases can be evaluated, the essential characteristic • Try to see the world objectively • VERSTEHEN – sociologist places himself in place of others & attempts to see things through their eyes

W. E. B. Du. Bois • 1868 -1963 - American • Conflict theory • Conducted research that he hoped would assist in the struggle for racial equality in society • He drew on scientific principles to study social problems faced