SOC105 Classical sociological theories

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2007
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 6 credit(s). Recommended Type of Completion: zk (examination). Other types of completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
PhDr. Roman Vido, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Michaela Pyšňáková (assistant)
Mgr. Michaela Šuleřová (assistant)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Ing. Radim Marada, Ph.D.
Department of Sociology – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Ing. Soňa Enenkelová
Timetable
Tue 10:00–11:40 P51 Posluchárna V. Čermáka
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 9 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The course introduces students to major sociological theories, which one can call classical from the contemporary point of view. Students review the main streams of sociological thought in 19st and in the beginning of 20st century, focusing on the work and thought of Max Weber, Emile Durkheim, Karl Marx, Georg Simmel. The theorists of sociology will be compared with respect to their point of views on modern society, their approaches to the social sciences, their views on history, their conceptions of capitalism, and their ideas on social change. Important objectives of the course are to identify the conceptual core of the discipline and to critically evaluate the relevance of the classical theories to contemporary societies in the beginning of 21st century. Course materials include both the original texts and the secondary undergraduate literature, used to examine the concepts, methods, and explanation in classical sociological thought. At the end, students will be able to apply classical sociological conceptions to problems of contemporary society.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction to the course: social and economic background of the rise of sociological theory. 2. Typological construction of sociological theory: sociological thought of Auguste Comte, Herbert Spencer, Ferdinand Tönnies and Alexis de Tocquevill. 3. Sociological theory in France I: Emile Durkheim and the discovery of social facts. 4. Sociological theory in France II: Emile Durkheim and Marcel Mauss: society as sui generis. 5. Sociological theory of Karl Marx: material conditions as the key of comprehension of modern society. 6. Sociological theory of Max Weber: social action as the key of comprehension of modern society. 7. Capitalism as the essence of sociological theory I: Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. 8. Capitalism as the essence of sociological theory II: Max Weber. 9. Sociology of content and form: George Simmel. 10. Political and economic sociological theory: Vilfredo Pareto and Robert Michels, Thorstein Veblen and Joseph Schumpeter. 11. Sociological theory and human personality-from unconsious self to fluid self: Sigmund Freud, Charles Horton Cooley and George Herbert Mead. 12. Introduction to sociology of knowledge as the sociological theory and the movement to modern sociological theory: Karl Mannheim
Literature
  • Cuin, Ch.H., Gresle, F. 2004. Dějiny sociologie. Praha: Slon. (str. 1-171)
  • Durkheim, É. 1998. Představy individuální a představy kolektivní. In: Durkheim, É., Sociologie a filosofie. Praha: Slon, str. 17-48.
  • Durkheim, É. 2004. Společenská dělba práce. Brno: Centrum pro studium demokracie a kultury, str. 39-45, 49-66.
  • Hubík, S. 1999. Sociologie vědění. Praha: Slon, str. 90-130.
  • Keller, J., 2004. Dějiny klasické sociologie. Slon, Praha (stránky uvedené výše).
  • Marx, K. 1954. Zbožní fetišismus a jeho tajemství. In: Marx, K., Kapitál I. Praha: Státní nakladatelství politické literatury, str. 88-101.
  • Petrusek, M. 1999. Veblenův příchod do Čech. In: Veblen, T., Teorie zahálčivé třídy. Praha: Slon, str. 303-331.
  • Simmel, G. 1997. Peníze v moderní kultuře. In: Simmel, G., Peníze v moderní kultuře a jiné eseje, Praha: Slon, str. 7-33.
  • Tocqueville de, A. 2000. Demokracie v Americe, Praha: Academia, str. 175-209.
  • Weber, M. 1998. Protestantská etika a duch kapitalismu. In: Weber, M., Metodologie, sociologie a politika. Praha: Oikoymenh, str. 185-245.
Assessment methods
Students absolve midterm test and final written exam.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 1999, Spring 2001, Spring 2002, Spring 2003, Autumn 2003, Autumn 2004, Autumn 2005, Autumn 2006, Autumn 2008, Autumn 2009, Autumn 2010, Autumn 2011, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, Autumn 2017, Autumn 2018.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2007, recent)
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