Ten Questions: A Sociological Perspective

by Charon

• ISBN13: 9780534525699
• ISBN10: 0534525695
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1997-08-04
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Introduction	1	(6)
1 How Do Sociologists Study Society? Researching the Social World	7	(20)
The Beginnings of Rational Proof	7	(2)
Proof, Science, and Sociology	9	(9)
Two Assumptions of Science	18	(4)
Sociology: Understanding the Puzzle of Society	22	(1)
Summary and Conclusion	23	(1)
References	24	(3)
2 What Does It Mean to Be Human? Human Nature, Society, and Culture	27	(18)
Human Beings Are Social Beings	29	(9)
Human Beings Are Cultural Beings	38	(2)
The Importance of It All	40	(1)
Summary and Conclusion	41	(1)
References	42	(3)
3 How Is Society Possible? The Basis for Social Order	45	(24)
Society Is Possible Through Social Interaction	49	(3)
Society Depends on Social Patterns	52	(9)
Society Is Made Possible Through Feelings of Loyalty	61	(2)
Conflict and Change Help Preserve Society	63	(1)
Summary and Conclusion	64	(1)
References	65	(4)
4 Why Are People Unequal in Society? The Origin and Perpetuation of Social Inequality	69	(30)
Introduction	69	(2)
Why Does Inequality Emerge in the First Place?	71	(12)
Why Does Inequality Continue?	83	(9)
Summary and Conclusion	92	(1)
References	93	(6)
5 Why Do We Believe What We Do? The Creation of Social Reality	99	(21)
The Utility of Knowledge	100	(1)
The Social Construction of Reality	101	(6)
Social Structure and Reality	107	(5)
The Changing Nature of the Individual's Reality	112	(2)
The Importance of Our Past	114	(1)
Do Individuals Form Their Own Ideas?	115	(1)
Summary and Conclusion	116	(1)
References	116	(4)
6 Are Human Beings Free? The Possibility for Freedom in Society	120	(27)
The Meaning of Freedom and Responsibility	121	(1)
Freedom as a Value in American Culture	122	(1)
The Sociological View: The Power of Society	123	(4)
Freedom: Thought and Action	127	(1)
Society and the Control of Thought	128	(3)
Society and the Control of Action	131	(8)
Social Forces and the Individual: A Summary	139	(1)
Is There Any Freedom?	140	(3)
Summary and Conclusion	143	(1)
References	143	(4)
7 Why Can't Everyone Be Just Like Us? The Dilemma of Ethnocentrism	147	(22)
The Meaning of Values	148	(2)
Values and Making Value Judgments	150	(2)
Meaning of Ethnocentrism	152	(2)
The Reasons for Ethnocentrism	154	(6)
Human Differences	160	(5)
Summary and Conclusion	165	(1)
References	166	(3)
8 Why Is There Misery in the World? Society as an Important Source of Human Problems	169	(32)
The First Cause of Misery: Social Inequality	174	(8)
The Second Cause of Misery: Destructive Social Conflict	182	(4)
The Third Cause of Misery: Socialization	186	(3)
The Fourth Cause of Misery: Alienation	189	(3)
Summary and Conclusion	192	(3)
References	195	(6)
9 Does the Individual Really Make a Difference? An Introduction to Social Change	201	(26)
The Individual's Influence on His or Her Own Life	202	(1)
The Individual's Influence on Other Individuals	203	(4)
The Individual Versus Social Organization	207	(7)
Social Change: A Sociological View	214	(7)
Some Implications for Living	221	(2)
Summary and Conclusion	223	(1)
References	223	(4)
10 Is Sociology Important? The Necessity for a Critical Understanding of Society	227	(12)
Sociology and a Liberal Arts Education	227	(1)
Sociology and Democracy	228	(7)
Summary and Conclusion	235	(1)
References	236	(3)
Afterword Should We Generalize About People?	239	(20)
Categories and Generalizations	240	(6)
The Stereotype	246	(2)
Social Science: A Reaction to Stereotypes	248	(5)
Summary and Conclusion	253	(3)
References	256	(3)
Index	259