Classical (Western) Sociologists

Question 1

Karl Marx - Father of conflict theory

Answer 1

Historical Materialism - society progresses through class struggles (feudalism to capitalism to socialism)

Alienation - workers are alienated from labour, product, others and self

Economic base shapes superstructures

Modes of production - economic system in place to produce goods and services which determines social political social institutions

Force of production - the tool, machinery, raw materials and labour available

Relations of production - social relationship and power dynamics between people involved in production

Criticism - ignored gender and culture

Question 2

Max Weber - interpretative sociology

Answer 2

Protestant ethics and the spirit of capitalism - capitalism emerged from calvinist religious ethics (incest money back into business, good worker etc)

Types of authority

• traditional (monarchy)
• charismatic (gandhi?)
• legal rational(modern bureaucracy)

Interpretive sociology - sociologists must understand social actions from the actors perspective.

Criticism- ignored material conditions (Marxists)

Question 3

Emile Durkheim - father of functionalist

Answer 3

Social Facts** → External forces that shape behavior (laws, norms).
- Solidarity:
- Mechanical Solidarity → Traditional societies (shared beliefs).
- Organic Solidarity → Modern societies (division of labor).

He believed morden societies were more stable

• Suicide Study → First empirical sociological research.
  
  • Egoistic (lonliness no integration)
  • Altruistic (army death too much integration)
  • Anomic (no regulation, economic crisis)
  • Fatalistic (excessive control like prison)

❗ Criticism:
Focused too much on order, ignored conflict.

Question 4

Auguste Comte - father of socio

Answer 4

Coined the term “Sociology”.**
- Introduced Positivism → Sociology should be scientific.
- Law of Three Stages:
1. Theological → Religious explanations.
2. Metaphysical → Abstract reasoning.
3. Positive → Scientific thinking.

❗ Criticism:
Oversimplified history, ignored human agency.

Question 5

Herbert Spencer - Social Darwinism

Answer 5

• Society and an organism - has interdependent parts
• social evolution favors the strong
• laissez faire policy - opposed government interference in social issues

Criticisms - justified inequality, ignored social justice (Marxists and feminists)

Question 6

Talcott Parsons - Structural Functionalists

Answer 6

AGIL Model: (about how social systems survive)
- A – Adaptation (Economy)
- G – Goal Attainment (Politics)
- I – Integration(Law & Social Systems)
- L – Latency (Culture, Family)
- Pattern Variables:
Traditional ↔️ Modern (e.g. Ascription ↔️ Achievement)

❗ Criticism:
Ignored social conflict & change, too idealistic.

Question 7

ANTHONY GIDDENS (1938– ) – Structuration Theory

Answer 7

Critic of classical structural functionalism.
- Proposed Structuration Theory →
Structure & Agency are interrelated.
People are not just shaped by society; they also shape it.
- Discussed Modernity & Globalization →
Risk society, reflexivity, changing identities.

❗ Criticism:
Theory is abstract, hard to apply empirically.