Tosini – Syllabus “Contemporary Sociological Theories” Page 1 of 5 University of Trento – Faculty of Sociology Undergraduate Programme in Sociology Language: Italian Study Course: Contemporary Sociological Theories [135132] http://www.unitn.it/sociologia Academic year: 2010/2011 Term: First semester Domenico Tosini Assistant Professor University of Trento Department of Sociology and Social Research Via Verdi 26 - 38122 Trento (Italy) http://www.unitn.it/en/dsrs +39 0461 281324 (phone) +39 0461 281348 (fax) [email protected] http://www.domenicotosini.org Office hours: Wednesday: 17.30 - 19.30 Third floor, Room 47 Formative aims An understanding of the major sociological approaches which are contemporaneous with, and subsequent to, Talcott Parsons's theoretical contributions. For all topics, an introductory overview is offered, which is followed, as an opportunity for a closer confrontation with the sociological debate, by an in-depth discussion of either a specific author or a specific group of thinkers. In order to avoid excessive redundancy, the selection of the topics depends on the programme of other required courses of the First Level Degree of Sociology (Corso di Laurea Triennale in Sociologia) and International Studies (Corso di Laurea Triennale in Studi Internazionali). Course programme 1. Introduction. 2. An overview of contemporary sociological theory. - W&W (chap. 1).* * Wallace R.A., Wolf A. (2006), Contemporary Sociological Theory, Pearson Education (sixth edition) OR Wallace R.A., Wolf A. (2008), La teoria sociologica contemporanea, il Mulino (sixth edition). 3. Neofunctionalism and systems theory. 3.1. Functional analysis. 3.2. N. Luhmann. Tosini – Syllabus “Contemporary Sociological Theories” Page 2 of 5 - W&W (chap. 2). - Luhmann N. (1986), ‘The Autopoiesis of Social Systems’, Journal of Sociocybernetics (2008), vol. 6, n. 2, pp. 84-95 (http://www.unizar.es/sociocybernetics/Journal/JoS6-22008.pdf) OR Tosini D. (2009), ‘Niklas Luhmann’ in G. Campesi et al. (eds.) Diritto e teoria sociale, Carocci, pp. 6-35 (sections 1-4 only) (http://portale.unitn.it/dpt/dsrs/docenti/tosini.htm - see “selected publications”). 4. Critical theories. 4.1. Major approaches. 4.2. The Frankfurt School. - W&W (chap. 3). - Appelrouth S., Desfor Edles L. (2007), ‘Critical Theory – Intellectual influences and Core Ideas’, in Idem, Sociological Theory in the Contemporary Era, Pine Forge Press, pp. 7792 (http://www.pineforge.com/upm-data/13070_Chapter3.pdf). 5. Conflict theories. 5.1. Major approaches. 5.2. L. Coser. - W&W (chapter 3). - Allan K. (2007), ‘Lewis Coser’, in Idem, Social Lens, London: Pine Forge Press, pp. 214220 (http://www.pineforge.com/upm-data/13636_Chapter7.pdf). 6. Macrosociological perspectives on modern and contemporary society. 6.1. Major approaches. 6.2. J. Habermas. - W&W. (chap. 4 and 9). - Bohman J., Rehg W. (2009), ‘Jürgen Habermas’, The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, sections 1, 2 and 3.1 (http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/habermas). 7. Symbolic interactionism. 7.1. Origins and developments. 7.2. H. Blumer. - W&W (chap. 5). - Blumer H. (1969), ‘The Methodological Position of Symbolic Interactionism’, S. Appelrouth, L. Desfor Edles (2007), Sociological Theory in the Contemporary Era, Pine Forge Press, pp. 166-177 (http://www.pineforge.com/upm-data/13071_Chapter5.pdf). 8. Phenomenology and ethnomethodology. 8.1. Origins and developments. 8.2. Principles of ethnomethodology. - W&W (chap. 6). - Denzin N. K. (1969), 'Symbolic Interactionism and Ethnomethodology' American Sociological Review, vol. 34, n. 6, pp. 922-934 (http://portale.unitn.it/biblioteca > catalogues and electronic resources > journals). 9. Rational choice theories. 9.1. Major approaches. 9.2. R. Boudon. - W&W (chap. 7). Tosini – Syllabus “Contemporary Sociological Theories” Page 3 of 5 - Boudon R. (2003), ‘Beyond Rational Choice Theory’, Annual Review of Sociology, vol. 29, pp. 1-21 (http://portale.unitn.it/biblioteca > catalogues and electronic resources > journals) OR Boudon R. (2005) ‘Teoria della scelta razionale o individualismo metodologico: sono la stessa cosa?’, in M. Borlandi, L. Sciolla (ed.), La spiegazione sociologica, il Mulino, pp. 13-33 (http://portale.unitn.it/biblioteca > catalogues and electronic resources > E-books). 10. Macro to micro and back again. 10.1. The micro-macro link. 10.2. The analytical sociology. - Hedström P., Ylikosky P. (2010), ‘Causal Mechanisms in the Social Sciences’, Annual Review of Sociology, vol. 36, pp. 49-67 (http://portale.unitn.it/biblioteca > catalogues and electronic resources > journals) OR Barbera F. (2004), Meccanismi sociali, il Mulino, chap. 1 and 2 (http://portale.unitn.it/biblioteca > catalogues and electronic resources > E-books). 11. Theory and progress in sociology. - Rule J. B. (1994), ‘Dilemmas of Theoretical Progress’, Sociological Forum, vol. 9, n. 2, pp. 241-257 (http://portale.unitn.it/biblioteca > catalogues and electronic resources > journals). 12. Conclusions. Prerequisites A basic knowledge of the classical sociological theories and of the fundamental concepts of sociology. Teaching methods A 48-hours lectures course comprehensive of discussion classes. Learning assessment methods Written examination. The test will last for two hours and thirty minutes. Foreign students will be able to write their essays in English. Reference books THE REQUIRED LITERATURE INCLUDES: 1) THE FOLLOWING HANDBOOK (SPECIFIED ALSO IN THE COURSE PROGRAMME) - Wallace R.A., Wolf A. (2006), Contemporary Sociological Theory, Upper Saddle River (NJ): Pearson Education (sixth edition) (except chapter 8) OR Wallace R. A., Wolf A. (2008), La teoria sociologica contemporanea, Bologna: il Mulino (sixth edition) (except chapter 8). Tosini – Syllabus “Contemporary Sociological Theories” Page 4 of 5 2) THE FOLLOWING, ADDITIONAL MATERIALS (SPECIFIED ALSO IN THE COURSE PROGRAMME) (Online access to such references is free: for certain references by using directly their respective URL; for the other references by using, as specified, the university library’s URL, http://portale.unitn.it/biblioteca > catalogues and electronic resources > journals / e-books, and by selecting the corresponding periodical or e-book). - Allan K. (2007), ‘Lewis Coser’, in Idem, Social Lens, London: Pine Forge Press, pp. 214220 (http://www.pineforge.com/upm-data/13636_Chapter7.pdf). - Appelrouth S., Desfor Edles L. (2007), ‘Critical Theory – Intellectual influences and Core Ideas’, in Idem, Sociological Theory in the Contemporary Era, London: Pine Forge Press, pp. 77-92 (http://www.pineforge.com/upm-data/13070_Chapter3.pdf). - Blumer H. (1969), ‘The Methodological Position of Symbolic Interactionism’, S. Appelrouth, L. Desfor Edles (2007), Sociological Theory in the Contemporary Era, London: Pine Forge Press, pp. 166-177 (http://www.pineforge.com/upmdata/13071_Chapter5.pdf). - Bohman J., Rehg W. (2009), ‘Jürgen Habermas’, The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, sections 1, 2 e 3.1 (http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/habermas). - Boudon R. (2003), ‘Beyond Rational Choice Theory’, Annual Review of Sociology, vol. 29, pp. 1-21 (http://portale.unitn.it/biblioteca > catalogues and electronic resources > journals) OR Boudon R. (2005) ‘Teoria della scelta razionale o individualismo metodologico: sono la stessa cosa?’, in M. Borlandi, L. Sciolla (ed.), La spiegazione sociologica, Bologna, il Mulino, pp. 13-33 (http://portale.unitn.it/biblioteca > catalogues and electronic resources > E-books). - Denzin N. K. (1969), 'Symbolic Interactionism and Ethnomethodology' American Sociological Review, vol. 34, n. 6, pp. 922-934 (http://portale.unitn.it/biblioteca > catalogues and electronic resources > journals). - Hedström P., Ylikosky P. (2010), ‘Causal Mechanisms in the Social Sciences’, Annual Review of Sociology, vol. 36, pp. 49-67 (http://portale.unitn.it/biblioteca > catalogues and electronic resources > journals) OR Barbera F. (2004), Meccanismi sociali, Bologna: il Mulino, chapters 1 and 2 (http://portale.unitn.it/biblioteca > catalogues and electronic resources > E-books). - Luhmann N. (1986), ‘The Autopoiesis of Social Systems’, Journal of Sociocybernetics (2008), vol. 6, n. 2, pp. 84-95 (http://www.unizar.es/sociocybernetics/Journal/JoS6-22008.pdf) OR Tosini D. (2009), ‘Niklas Luhmann’ in G. Campesi et al. (eds.) Diritto e teoria sociale, Roma: Carocci, pp. 6-35 (sections 1-4 only) (http://portale.unitn.it/dpt/dsrs/docenti/tosini.htm - see selected publications). - Rule J. B. (1994), ‘Dilemmas of Theoretical Progress’, Sociological Forum 9 (2), pp. 241-257 (http://portale.unitn.it/biblioteca > catalogues and electronic resources > journals). OTHER RECOMMENDED LITERATURE - Adams B.N., Sydie R.A. (2002), Contemporary Sociological Theory, London: Pine Forge Press. - Borlandi M., Boudon R., Cherkaoui M., Valade B. (2005), Dictionnaire de la pensée sociologique, Paris: Presses Universitaires de France. - Boudon R., Cherkaoui M. (eds.) (2000), Contemporary Sociological Theory, London: Sage. - Calhoun C. et al. (eds.) (2007), Contemporary Sociological Theory, Oxford: Blackwell. - Ciacci M. (ed.) (1983), Interazionismo simbolico, Bologna: il Mulino. - Collins R. (1988), Theoretical Sociology, Orlando: Harcourt Brace Javanovich. - Collins R. (1992), Teorie sociologiche, Bologna: il Mulino. - Crespi F. (2002), Il pensiero sociologico, Bologna: il Mulino. Tosini – Syllabus “Contemporary Sociological Theories” Page 5 of 5 - Elliot A. (ed.) (1999), The Blackwell Reader in Contemporary Social Theory, Oxford: Blackwell. - Gallino L. (2006), Dizionario di Sociologia, Torino: UTET. - Giglioli P. P., Dal Lago, A. (ed.) (1983), Etnometodologia, Bologna: il Mulino. - Izzo A. (2005), Storia del pensiero sociologico, Bologna: il Mulino (vol. III: 'I contemporanei'). - Jay M. (1979), L’immaginazione dialettica, Bologna: il Mulino. - Jonas F. (1968), Geschichte der Soziologie, Reinbek bei Hamburg: Rowohlt Verlag (Band III: ‘Französische und italienische Soziologie’; Band IV: ‘Deutsche und amerikanische Soziologie’). - Jonas F. (1989), Storia della sociologia, Roma-Bari: Laterza (vol. II: 'L'età contemporanea'). - Lallement M. (1993), Histoire des idées sociologiques, Paris: Editions Nathan (tome 2: ‘De Parsons aux contemporains’). - Lallement M. (1996), Le idee della sociologia, Bari: Dedalo (vol. II: 'Da Parsons ai contemporanei'). - Poggi G., Sciortino G. (2008), Incontri col pensiero sociologico, Bologna: Mulino. - Pollini G., Pretto A. (eds.) (2009), Sociologi: teorie e ricerche. Un sussidio per la storia dell'analisi sociologica, Milano: Angeli. - Ritzer G. (2003), The Blackwell Companion to Major Contemporary Social Theorists, Oxford: Blackwell. - Ritzer G. (2008), Sociological Theory, New York: McGraw-Hill International Edition (Seventh edition). - Rule J. B. (1988), Theories of Civil Violence, Berkeley: University of California Press. - Rule J. B. (1997), Theory and Progress in Social Science, Cambridge (UK): Cambridge University Press. - Scott J., Marshall G. (2005), A Dictionary of Sociology, Oxford: Oxford University Press. - Turner B.S. (ed.) (2008), The New Blackwell Companion to Social Theory, Oxford: Blackwell. FURTHER INFORMATION Further references might be provided during the lectures and available at the Didactics Services Online (http://www.esse3.unitn.it/Start.do > Community > Academic years 2010/2011 > Teorie sociologiche contemporanee > materiali didattici).
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