SOC530 The Concept of reflexivity in sociological theory

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2012
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 10 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
doc. PhDr. Dino Numerato, Ph.D. (lecturer)
PhDr. Arnošt Svoboda, Ph.D. (assistant)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Ing. Radim Marada, Ph.D.
Department of Sociology – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Ing. Soňa Enenkelová
Supplier department: Department of Sociology – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Thu 1. 3. 16:00–19:40 U34, Thu 12. 4. 16:00–19:40 U34, Wed 2. 5. 16:00–19:40 U35, Thu 3. 5. 16:00–19:40 U34, Wed 16. 5. 16:00–19:40 U35, Thu 17. 5. 16:00–19:40 U34
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 30 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/30, only registered: 0/30, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/30
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The aim of the course is to present different ways in which the concept of reflexivity has been developed in sociology both at the micro-level of social action and at the macro-level of social systems. The course will firstly define a meaning of the polysemic term reflexivity. Afterwards, the concept of reflexive modernization (Beck, Lash, Giddens) that enhanced an introduction of the concept into the centre of sociological scholarship will be presented. The course will then present main critical approaches related to the reflexive modernization thesis, either in terms of critical realism (Archer), or relational sociology (Donati). A particular attention will also be given to those perspectives that dealt with connections between reflexive action and habitus (Bourdieu, Mouzelis, Elder-Vass). In addition to the mainstream sociological conceptualisations, the course will also be focused on those explorations which remained sidelined to the periphery of sociological scholarship; those that were focused on discoursive and symbolic nature of reflexive agency (Ailon) or developed an idea about links between reflexivity and emotions (Holmes). At the end of the course students should become acquainted with key representatives of sociological theory who have dealt with the concept of reflexivity. At the same, students should become familiar with conceptual tools to interpret social phenomena whose understanding is crucial for an analysis of contemporary societies, including the role of expert knowledge, an increasing demand for social or environmental sustainability, or reinvention of tradition and communities.
Syllabus
  • 1. Reflexivity: a term definition 2. Reflexivity as a diagnosis: the concept of reflexive modernization 3. Critiques and revisions of the concept of reflexive modernization 4. Reflexivity as a deliberate social action 5. Unintended reflexivity: emotions and habitus 6. Unfulfilled expectations: reflexivity and limited social change (
Literature
    required literature
  • Donati, P. (2010). Relational Sociology. A New Paradigm for the Social Sciences. London: Routledge.
  • Archer, M. S. (2007). Making Our Way Through the World: Human Reflexivity and Social Mobility. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
  • Archer, M. S. (Ed.) (2010), Conversations About Reflexivity, London: Routledge.
  • LUHMANN, Niklas. Sociální systémy : nárys obecné teorie. Translated by Pavel Váňa. 1. vyd. Brno: CDK (Centrum pro studium demokracie a kultury), 2006, 550 s. ISBN 8073251000. info
  • BECK, Ulrich, Anthony GIDDENS and Scott LASH. Reflexive modernization : politics, tradition and aesthetics in the modern social order. Cambridge: Polity Press, 1994, viii, 225. ISBN 0-7456-1278-4. info
    not specified
  • Seznam literatury zde je pouze orientační. Konkrétní kapitoly a další články budou specifikovány v sylabu kurzu, který je dostupný ve studijních materiálech.
Teaching methods
Lectures, seminars, class discussion, presentations
Assessment methods
- literature summaries - oral presentation - active participation in seminars - final paper
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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