Listed in: Anthropology and Sociology, as SOCI-315
Jerome L. Himmelstein (Section 01)
Sociology emerged as part of the intellectual response to the French and Industrial Revolutions. In various ways, the classic sociological thinkers sought to make sense of these changes and the kind of society that resulted from them. We shall begin by examining the social and intellectual context in which sociology developed and then turn to a close reading of the works of five important social thinkers: Marx, Tocqueville, Weber, Durkheim, and DuBois. We shall attempt to identify the theoretical perspective of each thinker by posing several basic questions: According to each social thinker, what is the general nature of society, the individual, and the relationship between the two? What holds societies together? What pulls them apart? How does social change occur? What are the distinguishing features of modern Western society in particular? What distinctive dilemmas do individuals face in modern society? What are the prospects for human freedom and happiness? Although the five thinkers differ strikingly from each other, we shall also determine the extent to which they share a common “sociological consciousness.” Required of sociology majors.
Limited to 20 students. Spring semester. Professor Himmelstein.
How to handle overenrollment: Sociology and anthropology majors have preference
Students who enroll in this course will likely encounter and be expected to engage in the following intellectual skills, modes of learning, and assessment: Emphasis on written work and reading.
Section 01
Tu 11:30 AM - 12:50 PM MORG 110
Th 11:30 AM - 12:50 PM MORG 110
This is preliminary information about books for this course. Please contact your instructor or the Academic Coordinator for the department, before attempting to purchase these books.
| ISBN | Title | Publisher | Author(s) | Comment | Book Store | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| From Max Weber | Oxford | Gerth and Mills, ed | Amherst Books | TBD | ||
| The Souls of Black Folks | St. Martin's/Bedford Press, with intro by Blight and Gooding-Williams | Dubois | Amherst Books | TBD | ||
| Democracy in America | Harper Perennial Modern Classics | Tocqueville (ed. Mayer) | Comment: | Amherst Books | TBD | |
| Marx-Engels Reader | W. W. Norton | Marx, Karl | Comment: | Amherst Books | TBD | |
| On Morality and Society Selected Writings | University of Chicago Press | Durkheim, Emile | Comment: | Amherst Books | TBD | |
| The Protestant Ethic & the Spirit of Capitalism | Dover Publications | Weber, Max | Comment: | Amherst Books | TBD | |
| Suicide: A Study in Sociology | Free Press | Durkheim, Emile | Comment: | Amherst Books | TBD |
These books are available locally at Amherst Books.