Ten Questions A Sociological Perspective

by Charon, Joel M.

• ISBN13: 9780495006909
• ISBN10: 0495006904
• Edition: 6th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-04-11
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing

Summary

What does it mean to be human? Are human beings free? Why is there misery in the world? TEN QUESTIONS: A SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE examines the philosophies of the 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	x
Introduction	1	(7)
How Do Sociologists Study Society?	8	(21)
Researching the Social World
Concepts, Themes, and Key Individuals	8	(1)
The Beginnings of Rational Proof	8	(2)
Proof, Science, and Sociology	10	(10)
Two Assumptions of Science	20	(3)
Sociology: Understanding the Puzzle of Society	23	(1)
Summary and Conclusion	24	(1)
Questions to Consider	25	(1)
References	26	(3)
What Does It Mean to Be Human?	29	(19)
Human Nature, Society, and Culture
Concepts, Themes, and Key Individuals	29	(2)
Human Beings Are Social Beings	31	(9)
Human Beings Are Cultural Beings	40	(2)
The Importance of It All	42	(2)
Summary and Conclusion	44	(1)
Questions to Consider	44	(1)
References	45	(3)
How Is Society Possible?	48	(29)
The Basis for Social Order
Concepts, Themes, and Key Individuals	48	(1)
Society Is a Social Organization	49	(3)
Society Is Possible through Social Interaction	52	(4)
Society Depends on Social Patterns	56	(8)
Society Is Made Possible through Feelings of Loyalty	64	(3)
Conflict and Change Help Preserve Society	67	(3)
Summary and Conclusion	70	(1)
Questions to Consider	71	(1)
References	71	(6)
Why Are People Unequal in Society?	77	(33)
The Origin and Perpetuation of Social Inequality
Concepts, Themes, and Key Individuals	77	(1)
Introduction	77	(3)
Why Does Inequality Emerge in the First Place?	80	(9)
Why Does Inequality Continue?	89	(10)
Summary and Conclusion	99	(2)
Questions to Consider	101	(1)
References	101	(9)
Are Human Beings Free?	110	(41)
The Power of Society over Human Thinking and Action
Concepts, Themes, and Key Individuals	110	(2)
The Meaning of Freedom	112	(5)
Freedom and the Control of Thought	117	(14)
Freedom and the Control of Action	131	(7)
Social Forces and the Individual: Is Any Freedom Possible?	138	(3)
Summary and Conclusion	141	(2)
Questions to Consider	143	(1)
References	144	(7)
Why Can't Everyone Be Just Like Us?	151	(25)
Value Judgments, Ethnocentrism, and Human Differences
Concepts, Themes, and Key Individuals	151	(1)
The Meaning of Values	152	(2)
Values and Making Value Judgments	154	(2)
Meaning of Ethnocentrism	156	(2)
The Reasons Ethnocentrism Arises	158	(5)
Human Differences	163	(5)
Summary and Conclusion	168	(1)
Questions to Consider	169	(1)
References	170	(6)
Why Is There Misery in the World?	176	(39)
Society as an Important Source of Human Problems
Concepts, Themes, and Key Individuals	176	(5)
The First Cause of Misery: Social Inequality	181	(10)
The Second Cause of Misery: Destructive Social Conflict	191	(3)
The Third Cause of Misery: Socialization	194	(4)
The Fourth Cause of Misery: Alienation	198	(4)
Summary and Conclusion	202	(3)
Questions to Consider	205	(1)
References	205	(10)
Does the Individual Really Make a Difference?	215	(32)
An Introduction to Social Change
Concepts, Themes, and Key Individuals	215	(2)
The Individual's Influence on His or Her Own Life	217	(1)
The Individual's Influence on Other Individuals	217	(4)
The Individual Versus Social Organization	221	(6)
Social Change: A Sociological View	227	(10)
Some Implications for Living	237	(2)
Summary and Conclusion	239	(1)
Questions to Consider	239	(1)
References	240	(7)
Is Organized Religion Necessary for Society?	247	(40)
Tradition, Modernization, and Secularization
Concepts, Themes, and Key Individuals	247	(1)
Defining Religion	248	(6)
The Social Functions of Religion	254	(13)
Is Organized Religion Still Necessary?	267	(12)
Summary and Conclusion	279	(2)
Questions to Consider	281	(1)
References	282	(5)
Should We Generalize about People?	287	(21)
Generalizing, Categorizing, Stereotyping, and the Importance of Social Science
Concepts, Themes, and Key Individuals	287	(1)
Categories and Generalizations	288	(5)
The Stereotype	293	(3)
Social Science: A Reaction to Stereotypes	296	(6)
Summary and Conclusion	302	(2)
Questions to Consider	304	(1)
References	305	(3)
Why Study Sociology?	308	(21)
Understanding, Questioning, and Caring
Concepts, Themes, and Key Individuals	308	(1)
Sociology and a Liberal Arts Education	308	(2)
Sociology and Democracy	310	(13)
Summary and Conclusion	323	(1)
Questions to Consider	324	(1)
References	324	(5)
Glossary	329	(18)
Index	347