Ten Questions A Sociological Perspective

by Charon, Joel M.

• ISBN13: 9780534609528
• ISBN10: 053460952X
• Edition: 5th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-07-02
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing

Summary

This book employs a unique approach to introducing and examining sociological principles by posing and answering in each chapter a question such as: What does it mean to be human? Are human beings free? Why is there misery in the world? The book examines the philosophies of the classical sociologists such as Marx, Webber, Durkheim, Mead, and Berger and looks at how the field of sociology has approached these questions over the past 150 years. A nice alternative to a traditional introductory sociology text.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Introduction	1	(7)
1 How Do Sociologists Study Society?	8	(21)
Researching the Social World
Proof, Science, and Sociology	10	(1)
The Need for Scientific Sociology	10	(10)
Two Assumptions of Science	20	(3)
Sociology: Understanding the Puzzle of Society	23	(1)
Summary and Conclusion	24	(1)
How Do Sociologists Study Society?	25	(1)
References	26	(3)
2 What Does It Mean to Be Human?	29	(19)
Human Nature, Society, and Culture
Human Beings Are Social Beings	31	(9)
Human Beings Are Cultural Beings	40	(3)
The Importance of It All	43	(1)
Summary and Conclusion	44	(1)
What Does It Mean to Be Human?	45	(1)
References	45	(3)
3 How Is Society Possible?	48	(29)
The Basis for Social Order
Society Is a Social Organization	49	(3)
Society Is Possible through Social Interaction	52	(3)
Society Depends on Social Patterns	55	(9)
Society Is Made Possible through Feelings of Loyalty	64	(3)
Conflict and Change Help Preserve Society	67	(3)
Summary and Conclusion	70	(1)
How Is Society Possible?	71	(1)
References	71	(6)
4 Why Are People Unequal in Society?	77	(32)
The Origin and Perpetuation of Social Inequality
Introduction	77	(3)
Why Does Inequality Emerge in the First Place?	80	(9)
Why Does Inequality Continue?	89	(11)
Summary and Conclusion	100	(1)
Why Are People Unequal in Society?	101	(1)
References	102	(7)
5 Are Human Beings Free?	109	(40)
The Power of Society over Human Thinking and Action
The Meaning of Freedom	111	(5)
Freedom and the Control of Thought	116	(13)
Freedom and the Control of Action	129	(8)
Social Forces and the Individual: Is Any Freedom Possible?	137	(3)
Summary	140	(2)
Are Human Beings Free?	142	(1)
References	143	(6)
6 Why Can't Everyone Be Just Like Us?	149	(25)
Value Judgments, Ethnocentrism, and Human Differences
The Meaning of Values	150	(2)
Values and Making Value Judgments	152	(2)
Meaning of Ethnocentrism	154	(2)
The Reasons Ethnocentrism Arises	156	(6)
Human Differences	162	(4)
Summary and Conclusion	166	(2)
Why Can't Everyone Be Just Like Us?	168	(1)
References	168	(6)
7 Why Is There Misery in the World?	174	(38)
Society as an Important Source of Human Problems
The First Cause of Misery: Social Inequality	179	(10)
The Second Cause of Misery: Destructive Social Conflict	189	(4)
The Third Cause of Misery: Socialization	193	(3)
The Fourth Cause of Misery: Alienation	196	(5)
Summary and Conclusion	201	(2)
Why Is There Misery in the World?	203	(1)
References	204	(8)
8 Does the Individual Really Make a Difference?	212	(31)
An Introduction to Social Change
The Individual's Influence on His or Her Own Life	213	(1)
The Individual's Influence on Other Individuals	214	(4)
The Individual Versus Social Organization	218	(7)
Social Change: A Sociological View	225	(9)
Some Implications for Living	234	(2)
Summary and Conclusion	236	(1)
Does the Individual Really Make a Difference?	237	(1)
References	237	(6)
9 Is Organized Religion Necessary for Society?	243	(41)
Tradition, Modernization, and Secularization
Defining Religion	244	(6)
The Functions of Religion	250	(13)
The Debate over Secularization	263	(13)
Conclusion and Summary	276	(2)
Is Organized Religion Necessary for Society?	278	(1)
References	279	(5)
10 Is Sociology Important?	284	(14)
The Necessity for a Critical Understanding of Society
Sociology and a Liberal Arts Education	284	(1)
Sociology and Democracy	285	(8)
Summary and Conclusion	293	(1)
Is Sociology Important?	294	(1)
References	294	(4)
Afterword Should We Generalize About People?	298	(21)
Categories and Generalizations	299	(5)
The Stereotype	304	(4)
Social Science: A Reaction to Stereotypes	308	(5)
Summary and Conclusion	313	(3)
Should We Generalize About People?	316	(1)
References	316	(3)
Glossary	319	(19)
Index	338