Ten Questions A Sociological Perspective

by Charon, Joel M.

• ISBN13: 9780534570514
• ISBN10: 0534570518
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-06-21
• 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?; and Why is there misery in the world? The book examines the philosophies of classical sociologists such as Marx, Weber, Durkheim, Mead, and Berger and looks at how the field of sociology has approached these questions over the past 150 years.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Introduction	1	(6)
How Do Sociologists Study Society?	7	(22)
Researching the Social World
The Beginnings of Rational Proof	7	(2)
Proof, Science, and Sociology	9	(10)
Two Assumptions of Science	19	(3)
Sociology: Understanding the Puzzle of Society	22	(1)
Summary and Conclusion	23	(2)
How Do Sociologists Study Society?	25	(1)
References	25	(4)
What Does It Mean to Be Human?	29	(18)
Human Nature, Society, and Culture
Human Beings Are Social Beings	31	(9)
Human Beings Are Cultural Beings	40	(2)
The Importance of It All	42	(1)
Summary and Conclusion	43	(1)
What Does It Mean to Be Human?	44	(1)
References	44	(3)
How Is Society Possible?	47	(56)
The Basis for Social Order
Societies and Nations: Social Organization vs. Political Organization	48	(3)
Society Is Possible Through Social Interaction	51	(4)
Society Depends on Social Patterns	55	(8)
Society Is Made Possible Through Feelings of Loyalty	63	(3)
Conflict and Change Help Preserve Society	66	(1)
Summary and Conclusion	67	(1)
How Is Society Possible?	68	(1)
References	69	(4)
Why Are People Unequal in Society?
The Origin and Perpetuation of Social Inequality	73	(30)
Introduction	73	(2)
Why Does Inequality Emerge in the First Place?	75	(12)
Why Does Inequality Continue?	87	(9)
Summary and Conclusion	96	(1)
Why Are People Unequal in Society?	97	(1)
References	97	(6)
Why Do We Believe What We Do?	103	(22)
The Creation of Social Reality
The Utility of Knowledge	104	(1)
The Social Construction of Reality	105	(6)
Social Structure and Reality	111	(5)
The Changing Nature of the Individual's Reality	116	(2)
The Importance of Our Past	118	(1)
Do Individuals Form Their Own Ideas?	119	(1)
Summary and Conclusion	120	(1)
Why Do We Believe What We Do?	121	(1)
References	121	(4)
Are Human Beings Free?	125	(28)
The Possibility for Freedom in Society
The Meaning of Freedom and Responsibility	126	(1)
Freedom as a Value in American Culture	127	(1)
The Sociological View: The Power of Society	128	(4)
Freedom: Thought and Action	132	(1)
Society and the Control of Thought	133	(3)
Summary: Freedom and Thinking	136	(1)
Society and the Control of Action	137	(8)
Social Forces and the Individual: A Summary	145	(1)
Is There Any Freedom?	145	(4)
Summary and Conclusion	149	(1)
Are Human Beings Free?	149	(1)
References	149	(4)
Why Can't Everyone Be Just Like Us?	153	(22)
The Dilemma of Ethnocentrism
The Meaning of Values	154	(1)
Values and Making Value Judgments	155	(3)
Meaning of Ethnocentrism	158	(1)
The Reasons for Ethnocentrism	159	(7)
Human Differences	166	(4)
Summary and Conclusion	170	(2)
Why Can't Everyone Be Just Like Us?	172	(1)
References	172	(3)
Why Is There Misery in the World?	175	(34)
Society as an Important Source of Human Problems
The First Cause of Misery: Social Inequality	180	(9)
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	(4)
Summary and Conclusion	200	(2)
Why Is There Misery in the World?	202	(1)
References	203	(6)
Does the Individual Really Make a Difference?	209	(26)
An Introduction to Social Change
The Individual's Influence on His or Her Own Life	210	(1)
The Individual's Influence on Other Individuals	211	(4)
The Individual Versus Social Organization	215	(6)
Social Change: A Sociological View	221	(8)
Some Implications for Living	229	(1)
Summary and Conclusion	230	(1)
Does the Individual Really Make a Difference?	231	(1)
References	231	(4)
Is Sociology Important?	235	(12)
The Necessity for a Critical Understanding of Society
Sociology and a Liberal Arts Education	235	(1)
Sociology and Democracy	236	(7)
Summary and Conclusion	243	(1)
Is Sociology Important?	244	(1)
References	245	(2)
Afterword	247	(20)
Should We Generalize About People?
Categories and Generalizations	248	(5)
The Stereotype	253	(3)
Social Science: A Reaction to Stereotypes	256	(6)
Summary and Conclusion	262	(2)
Should We Generalize About People?	264	(1)
References	265	(2)
Glossary	267	(16)
Index	283