DESCRIPTION:
Theory is the heart of any science, and the founding event of a new field is often the publication of a theory that describes, interprets, or explains some aspect of reality. This course introduces students to theory used in the study of social reality, with an emphasis on works that were important in founding the field of sociology. These works, often called “classical theory”, continue to be influential in discussions of the social world.
The main goals of the course are: to give students a basic understanding of the nature and varieties of theory, to survey major views of the nature and goals of sociology as a discipline, and to familiarize students with theoretical and empirical work on a number of important substantive topics. This course will also help familiarize students with the history of the field, as well as with ideas that have been influential in the world beyond sociology.
1. Introduction
2. Theory and Sociology
3. Metatheory I: Facts and Values
4. Metatheory II: Material and Ideal
5. Metatheory III: Social Action
6. Metatheory IV: Social Facts
7. Metatheory V: Social Forms
8. Stratification
9. Economics
10. Revolution
11: Differentiation
12. Suicide
13. Morality
14. Religion
15. Knowledge
16. Social Evolution