SOC105 Classical sociological theories

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2010
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. et Mgr. Pavel Kvaltýn (assistant)
Mgr. Petr Sič (assistant)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Ing. Radim Marada, Ph.D.
Division of Sociology – Department of Sociology – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Ing. Soňa Enenkelová
Timetable
each odd Tuesday 8:00–11:40 P31 Posluchárna A. I. Bláhy
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course introduces students to major classical sociological theories. Students review the main streams of sociological thought in 19th and in the beginning of 20th century, focusing on the work and thoughts of Max Weber, Emile Durkheim, Karl Marx and Georg Simmel. The classics of sociology will be compared with respect to their definition of social sciences, their views on modern society, their understanding of 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. After successful graduation of the course, students are also able to identify and formulate the most important elements of the theoretical conceptions, to compare the discussed interpretations of modernity, to find their commonalities and differences and understand basic methodological resources of the discipline of sociology. Course materials include both the original texts and the secondary undergraduate literature, used to examine the concepts, methods, and explanation in classical sociological thought.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction: Who are the classics of sociology? What is modernity?
  • 2. Triumphant modernity : A. Comte, H. Spencer
  • 3. Democratical modernity : Alexis de Tocqueville
  • 4. Capitalist modernity: Karl Marx
  • 5. Individualized modernity: Emile Durkheim I
  • 6. Individualized modernity: Emile Durkheim II
  • 7. Rationalized modernity: Max Weber I
  • 8. Rationalized modernity: Max Weber II
  • 9. Ambivalent modernity: Georg Simmel
  • 10. Irational modernity: V. Pareto, S. Freud
  • 11. Criticized modernity: K. Mannheim, T. Veblen
Literature
  • DURKHEIM, Émile. Sociologie a sociální vědy (Přít.) : Sociologie a filosofie ; Sociologie a sociální vědy. info
  • MARTUCCELLI, Danilo. Sociologie modernity : itinerář 20. století. Translated by Pavla Doležalová - Jana Spoustová. 1. vyd. Brno: Centrum pro studium demokracie a kultury, 2008, 494 s. ISBN 9788073251451. info
  • HARRINGTON, Austin. Moderní sociální teorie : základní témata a myšlenkové proudy. Translated by Hana Antonínová. Vyd. 1. Praha: Portál, 2006, 495 s. ISBN 8073670933. info
  • KELLER, Jan. Dějiny klasické sociologie. Vydání první. Praha: Sociologické nakladatelství, 2004, 529 stran. ISBN 8086429342. info
  • CUIN, Charles-Henry and François GRESLE. Dějiny sociologie. Translated by Jindřich Veselý. Praha: Slon, Sociologické nakladatelství, 2004, 263 stran. ISBN 8086429334. info
  • TOCQUEVILLE, Alexis de. Demokracie v Americe. Translated by Vladimír Jochmann. Vyd. 2., v nakladatelství A. Praha: Academia, 2000, 624 s. ISBN 8020008292. info
  • HUBÍK, Stanislav. Sociologie vědění :základní koncepce a paradigmata. Vyd. 1. Praha: Sociologické nakladatelství, 1999, 224 s. ISBN 80-85850-58-3. info
  • WEBER, Max. Metodologie, sociologie a politika. Translated by Miloš Havelka. 1. vyd. Praha: OIKOYMENH, 1998, 354 s. ISBN 80-86005-48-8. info
  • SIMMEL, Georg. Peníze v moderní kultuře a jiné eseje. Praha: Sociologické nakladatelství, 1997, 206 s. ISBN 80-85850-50-8. info
Teaching methods
Lectures, reading (self-study)
Assessment methods
Students must pass a partial written test and a final written exam. The content of the test and the exam is based on prescribed literature and presentations from lectures. The partial test cannot be repeated. More information about the evaluation of the course is available in the course syllabus.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
Study Materials
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 2007, Autumn 2008, Autumn 2009, Autumn 2011, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, Autumn 2017, Autumn 2018.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2010, recent)
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