Sociological Theory
Not as boring as it sounds!
Origins of Sociology
• Sociology as a discipline is the product of two
dramatic social changes:
1. The Enlightenment
2. The Industrial Revolution
The Enlightenment (18th c.)
• “Age of Reason”
• Emergence of the ideal of political liberty
– Societies that were more democratic began to
replace monarchies
• Political revolutions
– French and American revolutions (1789 & 1776)
• Rise of science and rational thought
– Ascendance of science, diminishing importance of
“the church”
Industrial Revolution (19th c.)
• Shift from agrarian to industrial
• Urbanization—“push and pull” economy
• Extremes of wealth and poverty
I’m going to briefly expound upon the Industrial Revolution,
as I think it is important for understanding the milieux
out of which Sociology was born.
THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
Become one with the cogs!
Shift from the Agrarian World
• Agricultural Revolution – New farming methods
invented, e.g. crop rotation.
• Enclosure movement had large land owners
buying and then fencing public land.
– Smaller farmers pushed off of land to work as wage
laborers for various land owners or to move to the
growing cities.
• More food produced = population increase
– In 1700 there were about 100 million people in
Europe, by 1800 the population had grown to 190
million.
Textile Industry Takes Off!!!
• Domestic system (cottage industry) had
dominated the early 1700s; merchants dropped
off raw materials at people’s homes, picked up
finished products later.
• Series of inventions modernize textile
manufacturing, including:
– 1760 – Spinning Jenny (James Hargreaves) – Allowed
for multiple threads to be woven together.
– 1793 – Cotton Gin (Eli Whitney) – Machine that
separated cotton seeds from the cotton.
Textile Industry Takes Off!!!
• These
advancements
resulted in the
movement of
work from the
home to the
factory.
Britain Industrializes First
• 1715-1850
• Many natural resources available in Britain,
including large amounts of coal and iron.
• Geographical advantages include a large river
system for water power and many natural
harbors for easy trade.
• A strong, stable government allowed a strong,
stable economy to develop which resulted in
extra money to invest.
Britain Industrializes First
• COLONIAL EMPIRE! – colonies provided much
needed raw materials and markets.
The Revolution Spreads
• To continental Europe, USA, and Japan between 1850
and 1914.
SLAVERY!!!
Changes Brought by the
Industrial Revolution
• Inventions change the way we live and work, e.g.
steam engine in 1763.
• Transportation and communication systems are greatly
enhanced, e.g. trains, telegraph.
• Cities begin to dominate the western world.
• Creates a new social order with the rise of an
influential middle class.
• Poor working conditions for lower classes eventually
lead to new social and political movements.
• Desire for markets and resources entice Europeans to
take over foreign lands (imperialism).
Now let us move on to:
Key Figures in
Sociological Theory
Research Project!
YAAAAAAAAAAAAY!
Emile Durkheim
Karl Marx
Max Weber
Key Figures in Sociological Theory
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Biography
Key problems focused on
Key concepts developed
Key works written and/or Key actions taken
More?
“Do not fear mistakes.
There are none.”
--Miles Davis
Key Figures in Sociological Theory
• Emile Durkheim, Karl Marx, and Max Weber
– Biography
– Key problems focused on
– Key concepts developed
– Key works written and/or key actions taken
– More?