Intro

Question 1

Durkheim as father of sociology

Answer 1

First department
First international journal
Sociology as its own distinct academic discipline

Question 2

Concept of Emergence

Answer 2

Physics -> Chemistry -> Biology -> Psychology -> Sociology

Things happen in groups that aren’t reducible to psychology

Question 3

Sociology as Unique Social Science

Answer 3

Sociology is broader than other social sciences like polisci, econ, or geo
Identity crisis–sociologists don’t study just one thing

Question 4

What themes hold Sociology together?
Snow (1999)–What would we lose if we lost sociology departments?
(Window on Social World)
4 Parts of Sociological Eye

Answer 4

4 Pieces of Sociological Eye:

• Relational Connections
• Contextual Embeddedness (ppl are in broader social contexts)
• Focus on Social Problems (how activist should sociologists be, Chicago School dealt w problems of immigrants)
• Ironic Perspective (common is often untrue/culturally unique)

Question 5

Added Value of Sociology for a Christian?

Answer 5

American evangelicalism is individualistic–what about collective sin/social structure sin?
Unintended consequences of our actions

Question 6

Added Value of Christian Belief to Sociology?

Answer 6

Avoid gaining knowledge for the sake of knowledge

Christian presuppositions–human nature, eschatology and “good society”

Question 7

Fundamental Debates Within Sociology

Answer 7

• Methodological (positivism vs interpretation, analysis vs narration)
• Ontological (structure vs culture, individualism vs emergentism)
• Problematics (choice vs restraint, conflict vs consensus)
• Knowledge (transcendent vs situated knowledge)