Ten Questions A Sociological Perspective,9780534609528

Ten Questions A Sociological Perspective

by
Edition: 5th
ISBN13: 9780534609528
ISBN10: 053460952X
Format: Paperback
Pub. Date: 2003-07-02
Publisher(s): Wadsworth Publishing
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Summary

This book employs a unique approach to introducing and examining sociological principles by posing and answering in each chapter a question such as: What does it mean to be human? Are human beings free? Why is there misery in the world? The book examines the philosophies of the classical sociologists such as Marx, Webber, Durkheim, Mead, and Berger and looks at how the field of sociology has approached these questions over the past 150 years. A nice alternative to a traditional introductory sociology text.

Table of Contents

Preface ix
Introduction 1(7)
1 How Do Sociologists Study Society? 8(21)
Researching the Social World
Proof, Science, and Sociology
10(1)
The Need for Scientific Sociology
10(10)
Two Assumptions of Science
20(3)
Sociology: Understanding the Puzzle of Society
23(1)
Summary and Conclusion
24(1)
How Do Sociologists Study Society?
25(1)
References
26(3)
2 What Does It Mean to Be Human? 29(19)
Human Nature, Society, and Culture
Human Beings Are Social Beings
31(9)
Human Beings Are Cultural Beings
40(3)
The Importance of It All
43(1)
Summary and Conclusion
44(1)
What Does It Mean to Be Human?
45(1)
References
45(3)
3 How Is Society Possible? 48(29)
The Basis for Social Order
Society Is a Social Organization
49(3)
Society Is Possible through Social Interaction
52(3)
Society Depends on Social Patterns
55(9)
Society Is Made Possible through Feelings of Loyalty
64(3)
Conflict and Change Help Preserve Society
67(3)
Summary and Conclusion
70(1)
How Is Society Possible?
71(1)
References
71(6)
4 Why Are People Unequal in Society? 77(32)
The Origin and Perpetuation of Social Inequality
Introduction
77(3)
Why Does Inequality Emerge in the First Place?
80(9)
Why Does Inequality Continue?
89(11)
Summary and Conclusion
100(1)
Why Are People Unequal in Society?
101(1)
References
102(7)
5 Are Human Beings Free? 109(40)
The Power of Society over Human Thinking and Action
The Meaning of Freedom
111(5)
Freedom and the Control of Thought
116(13)
Freedom and the Control of Action
129(8)
Social Forces and the Individual: Is Any Freedom Possible?
137(3)
Summary
140(2)
Are Human Beings Free?
142(1)
References
143(6)
6 Why Can't Everyone Be Just Like Us? 149(25)
Value Judgments, Ethnocentrism, and Human Differences
The Meaning of Values
150(2)
Values and Making Value Judgments
152(2)
Meaning of Ethnocentrism
154(2)
The Reasons Ethnocentrism Arises
156(6)
Human Differences
162(4)
Summary and Conclusion
166(2)
Why Can't Everyone Be Just Like Us?
168(1)
References
168(6)
7 Why Is There Misery in the World? 174(38)
Society as an Important Source of Human Problems
The First Cause of Misery: Social Inequality
179(10)
The Second Cause of Misery: Destructive Social Conflict
189(4)
The Third Cause of Misery: Socialization
193(3)
The Fourth Cause of Misery: Alienation
196(5)
Summary and Conclusion
201(2)
Why Is There Misery in the World?
203(1)
References
204(8)
8 Does the Individual Really Make a Difference? 212(31)
An Introduction to Social Change
The Individual's Influence on His or Her Own Life
213(1)
The Individual's Influence on Other Individuals
214(4)
The Individual Versus Social Organization
218(7)
Social Change: A Sociological View
225(9)
Some Implications for Living
234(2)
Summary and Conclusion
236(1)
Does the Individual Really Make a Difference?
237(1)
References
237(6)
9 Is Organized Religion Necessary for Society? 243(41)
Tradition, Modernization, and Secularization
Defining Religion
244(6)
The Functions of Religion
250(13)
The Debate over Secularization
263(13)
Conclusion and Summary
276(2)
Is Organized Religion Necessary for Society?
278(1)
References
279(5)
10 Is Sociology Important? 284(14)
The Necessity for a Critical Understanding of Society
Sociology and a Liberal Arts Education
284(1)
Sociology and Democracy
285(8)
Summary and Conclusion
293(1)
Is Sociology Important?
294(1)
References
294(4)
Afterword Should We Generalize About People? 298(21)
Categories and Generalizations
299(5)
The Stereotype
304(4)
Social Science: A Reaction to Stereotypes
308(5)
Summary and Conclusion
313(3)
Should We Generalize About People?
316(1)
References
316(3)
Glossary 319(19)
Index 338

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