SOCIOLOGY 611

 Classical Sociology Theory

This is the first of two theory courses required of all graduate students in sociology at UHM. The second, Sociology 612, is “Contemporary Social Theory,”  which presumes to begin where 611 ends. In 611, Students are asked to read either extensive selections or entire texts from the key figures in this history, beginning with Hobbes and including Locke (Chapter V, ‘Of Property,”),  Adam Smith and J-J Rousseau ( 2^nd Discourse on the Origins of Inequality). While these writers are not usually thought of as part of the ‘sociological’ tradition, they are critical to any understanding of the problems of modern theory and of its subsequent development. Indeed, they are firmly in the background—and often foreground—of all the writers who follow: Comte, Marx, Weber, and Durkheim.

Comte is read both for his views of  science--"‘positivism," and for his views of society and history--both foundations for much subsequent work.  Marx’s relation to Hegel is the starting point of the account of Marx.  The effort is made here (as elsewhere in the course) to maintain the context of texts and in particular here to argue that “Marxism” is more and other than what Marx actually said. Similar problems beset the understanding of Weber who became, through his appropriation by Talcott Parsons, a key figure in the Cold War ideological struggle with “Marxism.” We begin with an account of Weber’s highly original epistemology for the human sciences and look carefully at texts which are sometimes ignored, e.g., his posthumously published General Economic History. With both Marx and Weber in the background, and to illustrate concretely the influence of both, we read Gerda Lerner’s important study: The Creation of Patriarchy.

We then turn to Durkheim’s Rules of Sociological Method, then read Suicide—the best example of Durkheim’s ‘positivism,’ and the Division of Labor in Society.  We read Mead’s “naturalist” theory of Mind, Self and Society  and counterpose this to selections from Schutz.  We conclude with the dominant figure of the recent past, Talcott Parsons.  

The  internet is used extensively, both to make available many of the key texts assigned and to provide guidance in the reading of the primary texts. These are hyperlinked on the syllabus which follows. The internet is also used to maintain an ongoing asynchronous discussion.

In this course, a number of short papers are assigned, as many as seven. The aim is to provoke an engagement of the issues as they come up.

Go to Syllabus