Rachel R, Lynch
Longwood University
UE1, UE2, UE3
SOCL – 402
Dr. Grether
UE 1
For the first UE1 paper, there was clarity within the paper, however, the first question could have been answered more in-depth. Grasping the ideas of how Sociology and illustrating one’s knowledge of it. Within this paper, the first question asked, “Who were some early figures which helped to establish Sociology as a scientific discipline AND what were their contributions to Sociology?” This question was answered but not fully. The answer focused on Auguste Comte and Harriett Martineau, but the answer could have thoroughly explained their lives along with their contributions. The revisions that were made explained better Auguste Comte’s and Harriett Martineau’s theories and ideas. With that, showing the understanding of both theorist and their contributions, by adding more detail to the understanding of the impact they had to the science community. The revisions that were made create consistency and a clearer representation of knowledge for this paper and answer the questions thoroughly.
In the late 1800s, the Enlightenment was an innovative time for creating new ideas and inspiring many theorists to look into what our world holds and why we are the way we are. Some early figures emerged during this time and established what we know today as sociology as a scientific discipline. These figures include Auguste Comte and Harriett Martineau. Both theorists brought to life many new ideas about our world, human behaviors, and new sociological thoughts.
Starting off with Auguste Comte, who had a huge contribution to the century within the science community. Comte was surrounded by great changes, such as the Enlightenment and the Revolutionary War. These events constructed Comte’s views and ideas on the world. Comte’s biggest sociological contribution was coining the term ‘Sociology’ and bringing it to life in the growing scientific community. Comte grew up wealthy and a part of the upper class, with that, he was able to have an education at a very young age. He was fascinated with understanding our world and became a well-known theorist aiming to create a naturalistic science of society. Meaning he wanted to explain the past development of mankind and predict what the future may hold for our world. According to Coser (2003), Comte wanted to build a science that could explain such things, such as laws of motion that control mankind over the years. Comte wanted to illustrate how social dynamics could explain the course of mankind. He theorized what route the world was going to take with the advancing technology. He wanted to thoroughly theorize how we as a society would turn out. The second theorist who had a large impact on the scientific community during the era was Harriett Martineau. As opposed to Comte, Martineau was raised in a middle-class family and was mostly home-schooled. However, that did not stop her from valuing and focusing on education and growing her desire to learn more. She had a prolific writing career and greatly made an effort to abolish slavery and grow feminist views. Understanding her work within Sociology, she wanted to create a science that was grounded in observation and more accessible to the public not just the rich. She brought a new perspective by being a woman and not a part of the upper class. Due to Martineau being a woman of the time, she understood what it meant to be overlooked and what it was like to be unable to make decisions for herself. According to Lengermann and Niebrugge (2007), Martineau was raised in an environment that valued standing up for what you believe, regardless of the backlash. With that, Martineau wanted the common people to be able to make their own political and personal decisions that are more guided by scientific understanding. Both sociologists brought forth pronounced influential theories and ideas to the public establishing and growing Sociology as a scientific discipline.
Our world’s structures and people are very complex. Attempting to explain and make sense of mankind’s actions and bizarre happenings is strenuous. Scientists try and make sense of our behavior and society by creating theories. One-way scientists try to make sense of our nature is by creating sociological theory. A sociological theory is a critical and evaluative way of thinking to explain and make sense of our experiences. Due to our society constantly changing and evolving, scientists analyze our shared or split experiences and try to make sense of it all. A sociological theory is developed and inspired by many other theories; it never comes from just one place. According to Sternheimer (2020), theories blossom after multiple studies have already been conducted, and the theories are created to analyze the research and results. Sociological theories are derived from previous theories to strengthen new ideas. Our world is tricky with societal norms and views evolving and constantly changing. Trying to make sense of it all is more than just difficult. However, by creating sociological theories we attempt to provide a paradigm to explain our world’s ever-changing experiences and human behavior.
Sociology is unique from other scientific theories in many ways. Sociology is founded on learning and growing off of each other’s theories. Theories are strengthened when produced from previous studies and bring new ideas to the theory. Sociological theory is unique from other sciences because it is fundamentally founded on understanding the human condition and attempting to answer questions about the way of life. This is important when understanding us as beings and the existence of mankind. Sociology is different from other sciences in answering the ‘how’ and the ‘why’ in so many questions. Sociology is unique in attempting to understand human behavior, being that we are one of the most difficult beings in our world. In attempting to understand humans It is vital to understand where we have been, where we are going, and who was a part of the journey. According to Edles and Appelrouth (2010), Sociology is fascinating and different because theories that were created centuries ago still permeate present concerns and ideologies. Theories made hundreds of years ago are still applicable in modern-day sociology. Sociology attempts to explain and predict phenomena. Sociological theory is extremely important to have in the science community to understand why we are the way we are or attempt to explain.
In conclusion, during the time of the late 1800s, the Enlightenment was a time for the creation of new thoughts and ideologies. A time of great inspiration for many theorists to look into what our world holds and what our world holds for us. During this time, great thinkers emerged and brought new ideas and established what we know today as sociology as a scientific discipline. These figures include Auguste Comte and Harriett Martineau. Both theorists brought to life many new ideas about our world, human behaviors, and new sociological thoughts.
UE2
For the second UE2 paper, this paper was clear but only did not answer question two as in-depth as possible. The second question asked, “What are their key theoretical contributions?” The paper focuses on the theorist Karl Marx, who made large contributions to the scientific community during his time. The second question’s answer could have been more detailed on his theories and what he brought with his ideas. The revisions that were made add more detail to how Marx’s ideas impacted our society and world. Marx had many contributions to the field of Sociology, however, now the revision details some of his ideas more clearly. The revisions that were made create a clearer distinction to the goal of the paper and answer the questions thoroughly.
Within our world, there are many things within it that create worth in existence. There is an ongoing saying “Love what you do, and you will never work a day in your life” This is an ongoing saying in the belief that you should love what you do in your work. A well-known theorist Karl Marx, believed this is what made life worth it, to love making something from your own hands. Marx believed society was rapidly changing and the growing advancements were going to negatively affect us as a whole. He believed we were going to lose touch with what we truly loved.
The growth of society has been occurring since the dawn of time. We have and will continue to grow. Around the mid-1800s industrialization hit Europe at a rapid pace. During this time well-known founders of Sociology emerged with new ideas and theories. Specifically, Karl Marx during this time was becoming greatly known as a Sociologist, bringing forth many new ideas and theories into the science community. Marx was surrounded by a rapidly growing economy with great advancements in technology that his main focus became the emergence of Capitalism. He believed Capitalism would create negative relationships, especially with the worship of things. He believed people in society would start creating relationships between things and not relationships between the people around them. Marx was greatly interested in the growth that is happening within society, specifically the social changes occurring and the emerging negativity with it. According to Coser (2003), Marx wanted to understand more about social change, he believed that ‘man’ had the desire to change themselves even if it went against nature. Coser explains that Marx believed ‘man’ would change nature for their own benefit and when they transform nature, they are also transforming themselves. Marx believed with these growing advancements there grew new concerns with how relationships were being formed specifically with objects. Marx believed Capitalism was ruining the joy of being a human and the fulfillment and joy within it. Capitalism takes the joy out of living because we will begin to only care about money and the accumulation of it.
Karl Marx had great contributions to the scientific community, his main focus was on the growth of society and how there will be great negative effects from the emergence of Capitalism. Marx brought the realization to society of the harmful effects that Capitalism is and will bring to society. With that, Marx had major concerns about the extensive growth that was occurring in society. His main concern was how Capitalism creates alienation and the worship of things. He believed there would be a disconnect between human beings and real love for things. Capitalism creates alienation by the relationship between labor and humans is destroyed. The love and desire to do something out of pure enjoyment are destroyed when it becomes more about the accumulation of wealth. He believed with industrialization; people would begin to only care about money. Resulting in people only working to gain wealth and not self-fulfillment. Our labor and hard work will only matter in who will pay the most and not the work put into it. Marx believed there were forms of alienation. One being the workers are alienated from what they are creating and from their own labor and hard work. They are working and producing for others and money and not for themselves. The second is the alienation from fellow workers. Meaning it creates a divide between people instead of forming bonds from their shared love for something. The third is alienation from what it means to be ourselves. Doing something for ourselves because we want to do it not doing it for someone else. Marx believed Capitalism would take the joy out of being a human when they become glued to objects. Relating this to today Marx was not so far from how the world would turn out.
As time has gone on, we look at past research to build off the ones we are working on. Karl Marx brought forth many great theories and perspectives on the negative effects of great social change. Although at the time Marx was not sure if his theories would result to be true, his theories were strengthened in the future. According to Sternheimer (2020), the best theories are the ones that have been built off of past theories. This relates to also understanding past studies helps us understand present our works. According to Wynn (2016), when trying to understand the past of Sociology and how it was created helps and informs us how to understand Sociology today. Looking at how today we understand Capitalism is exactly how Marx predicted it would turn out to be. For example, the mass production of products with the newest phone or the next best car. Consumers in our society jump from trend to trend. For example, water bottles. Last year the “cool” water bottle to have was a Hydro Flask. Now the “cool” water bottle to have is a Stanley cup. We as a society are obsessed with products and hopping on the newest trends. Marx believed that we are losing joy in ourselves by obsessing over things and no longer making things with our own hands. Marx’s theories have turned out to be more accurate. Today there is a mass production of products to sell to people who do not need them at the end of the day. Marx’s theories were extremely influential and are still present in theories today. According to Menand (2016), he argued that, unlike other theorists of the time, Marx was revolutionary in what he produced. Marx was so influential at the time that his theories of how the world was going to turn out and how his predicted works retain their intellectual status over time. Even still in present-day some of his works such as “The Communist Manifesto” is spoken about and referred to. Marx believed we needed to stay in touch with our inner love, not with objects. However, as society grows that may be the case for humanity if we maintain our desires of things and the accumulation of wealth.
In conclusion, there are many aspects in our world that make life worth living and grow our love for the many things around us. No one loves to work; however, it is known that if you do something you truly love, you will not feel like you are working. Well-known Sociologist Karl Marx, believed this is what made life worth it, to love making something out of pure enjoyment. Marx emphasized that with society rapidly changing and the growing technological advancements were going to negatively affect society as a whole. He believed we were going to lose who we truly were when we started to work only for money.
UE3
For this UE3 paper, it had a few errors. Specifically, in the clarity of the paper and answering some of the questions in full. The paper had a few grammatical errors and questions two and three could have been answered more thoroughly. For question two “What are their key theoretical contributions?” The paper focused on Pierre Bourdieu and could have been clearer in illustrating the significance of his ideas with society, especially him being more of a modern Sociologist. The revised version of this paper goes more into detail about how his contributions are still relevant in today’s society. Bourdieu brought many theories that are still relevant in today’s society. The third question in this paper also had flaws in thoroughly explaining. The third question is “How do you see their work as helping to understand society today?” This question was more opinion based and could have been more extensive. The revisions that were made focused more on applying course material to the question, as well as adding more real-life examples of how Bourdieu’s ideas apply. The revisions that were made create a clearer flow for the paper to answer questions thoroughly.
Changes within Sociology have been occurring since the creation of it. Sociology is a rapidly growing science with new ideas and new theories being implemented continuously. A well-known contemporary Sociologist Pierre Bourdieu was a largely recognized social scientist who was born into a world of many changes. Bourdieu wanted to understand how social inequalities are constantly reproduced over time and how the wealthy maintain power and society accepts those aspects without thought. He believed our world did not have to be like this. We do not need social classes.
During the 1930s a plethora of world-changing and cultural shifts were occurring. The Great Depression and World War II were breaking out, Decolonization, and great political changes were occurring during this time. With the world rapidly changing, Pierre Bourdieu was born into a world of mobility and development growing his sociological point of view. Bourdieu was French and was a greatly influential sociologist in the 20th century. Bourdieu had many concerns about the social inequalities within society. He believed there was a disproportion of wealth and power within our social institutions. He wanted to understand society within themselves and the world of people without power. Bourdieu focused greatly on discovering what actors were the main causes of inequalities. He wanted society to be educated about these actors being the causes of inequalities and the disproportion of social classes. Where the elite has the power and the lower class does not. Bourdieu had a large concern with how individuals within society self-regulate their behavior so they can fit in the standards of society. According to Grace Ramsey, (2023), she emphasized the ideas of Bourdieu and how people within society have the desire to fit in, so they self-regulate to fit in social expectations. It is the habits society reinforces to be like everyone else.
Pierre Bourdieu implemented exceptional contributions to the science community by desiring for there to be influential changes within the world. He wanted his sociological work to make a difference and make a progressive change. He contributed most of his work to change how the social classes affected society. Bourdieu was a prolific Sociologist whose contributions and work are still largely recognized today. According to Truong and Weill (2012), even a decade after his death his work is still recognized on how he wanted to liberate the social classes and actors reinforcing the inequalities within classes. Bourdieu wanted to expose the social factors within society that were causing social inequalities. Especially if those in society were not aware the structures were the cause of inequity. He truly believed he could show society that it could be different. That we do not need to have disproportion within classes. Bourdieu did this by illustrating the causes within society that are creating an imbalance. He wrote Distinction A Social Critique of the Judgement of Taste to illustrate that society could be different, we do not need class structures to function. He understood that Understanding social classes is fickle when there is a retention of wealth consistently occurring within the classes. Bourdieu illustrated how certain actors reinforce the inequalities within classes. According to Bourdieu, (1986), Capital grows from accumulated labor and only benefits and strengthens the elite. Bourdieu believed Capital created social class and believed there were four kinds of Capital. Economic, Social, Symbolic, and Cultural. All factors place individuals into a social class. Economic Capital is the material resource controlling people. Illustrating an individual’s wealth by showing the materials they have. Social Capital is the social connections within society, the idea that “It’s whom you know in society”. Symbolic Capital is the ability to use symbolism to create physical and social realities. Lastly, Cultural Capital is from our social learning from our surroundings creating a social class. Whether someone is well-spoken illustrates wealth because they are able to afford an education. Bourdieu believed these were factors that created inequalities within our society and Bourdieu deeply wanted to change this. His contributions to society created the realization of the imbalance within society. Bourdieu brought forth many actors that are creating inequalities within classes and believed that they did not have to. We as a whole society do not need social classes to function.
Within society today we see Bourdieu’s theories and ideologies regularly demonstrate how to understand society today. Specifically, within our social structures, there are still inequalities within our social classes. His work has helped us understand how society is still structured by class today. The rich have power and the poor do not. We see Bourdieu’s ideas on how social classes control one another. For example, within our government. It is mainly ruled by those who had the means and the wealth to get there. Those who are running our government had the money to obtain a high position. With that, the common people are not truly represented, because to be a part of the government or have a position within the government, you have to have wealth. You do not see someone poor with great ideas running for president, do you? Bourdieu would have believed this is a huge factor to class inequalities within society, the poor are not truly represented by someone who relates to them. Another example is those choosing an occupation only for the accumulation of wealth. Individuals within society are not being true to themselves and are only conforming to societal standards. We still see today individuals within society desire the lifestyle of the elite, having the goals of being successful and rich. Even if it is through work they do not truly love. Bourdieu’s ideas relate to a similar social theorist’s ideas Erving Goffman, according to Goffman, (1956), he emphasized how individuals desire to blend in so they will conform to the standards of people around them. As discussed in a paper previously turned in, this is seen in High School students. Individuals in High School are expected to choose their life course at an extremely young age. With that, Higher Schoolers tend to lean more towards jobs that will bring them an accumulation of money rather than choosing a career that they love. Bourdieu believed this would be detrimental to those within a society, that people will stop being true to themselves and conform to societal standards.
In conclusion, developments and changes within society will forever occur. Within the study of Sociology, new theories, and ideas will continue to heighten our understanding of the people within our world due to constant changes to our norms. Contemporary Sociologist Pierre Bourdieu was a largely recognized social scientist who was born into a world of many changes. Bourdieu emphasized his theories and understandings of how social inequalities are constantly reproduced over time and how the wealthy maintain power and society accepts those aspects without thought. He believed our world could be so much more than who is in what social class. He believed there was more to life than money.
References
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