Section Overview
This section deeply explores the foundational perspectives in sociology and their key proponents – Durkheim, Marx, and Weber. Beginning with Durkheim, the emphasis lies on the concept of social facts and how these external societal structures influence individual behaviors, such as suicide rates. This is followed by a discussion on Durkheim’s functionalist perspective, differentiating between mechanical and organic solidarity and addressing the issue of normlessness or anomie. The spotlight then moves to Marx’s influential work on class conflict, capitalism, and the implications of workers’ alienation, with a particular focus on the importance of class consciousness for societal transformation. Weber’s analytical framework, examining society through class, status, and power, is then discussed, with special attention to his thoughts on rationalization, symbolic interactionism, and the consequences of an excessively rationalized society. The section concludes by reiterating how Marxism, Weberian theory, and Symbolic Interactionism have significantly shaped modern sociological theory, providing diverse perspectives on societal structures and interactions, and thereby influencing the development of new sociological frameworks and research methodologies.
Reading Assignment for Section 3.2
Read the following subsection from our online textbook: Section 3.2: Theoretical Perspectives on Society.
What You Will Learn
In this section, you’ll explore the major contributions of Durkheim, Marx, and Weber to sociology, including social facts, class conflict, and rationalization. You’ll understand Durkheim’s functionalist perspective, particularly the differences between mechanical and organic solidarity, and the concept of anomie. Additionally, you’ll evaluate Marx’s views on the economic base of society, class conflict, and workers’ alienation, and analyze Weber’s approach to class, status, power, and rationalization.
Student Learning Outcomes for Section 3.2
- SLO 1: Comprehend the significant contributions of Durkheim, Marx, and Weber to sociology, particularly the concepts of social facts, class conflict, and rationalization.
- SLO 2: Understand Durkheim’s functionalist perspective, specifically the difference between mechanical and organic solidarity and the phenomenon of normlessness or anomie.
- SLO 3: Evaluate Marx’s perspective on the economic base of society, class conflict, workers’ alienation, and the importance of class consciousness for societal change.
- SLO 4: Analyze Weber’s approach to understanding society through class, status, power, rationalization, and symbolic interactionism, considering the implications of extreme rationalization.
- SLO 5: Recognize the influence of Marxism, Weberian theory, and Symbolic Interactionism on modern sociological theory and their roles in developing diverse theoretical perspectives and research methodologies.
Modification History File Created: 05/07/2023 Last Modified: 06/26/2023
This work is licensed under an Open Educational Resource-Quality Master Source (OER-QMS) License.
