I definitely feel like I now have a more concrete grasp of what sociology means and entails. The readings we’ve encountered have certainly leaned towards a more pessimistic view overall, focusing on “problems” we have in the world; and thus out of the two views on sociology we analyzed in the first readings, I still find Mill’s argument for sociology as a practical and assessable topic more convincing. Even if that isn’t what sociology is right now, I believe that it is what sociology should be. Berger’s belief in sociology only for the highly passionate people remains too elitist and without much practical value for me – and it would make sociology seems like a huge waste (almost inhumanely so) of resources while there are still so many problems rooted in the world for us to solve.
I found the optimism and utopian thinking arguments interesting because it presents itself as a strong contrast against all the pessimistic readings we have had up until this point. While so much of the content is “gloomy,” the dissatisfaction with reality that results from this “gloominess” can act as a pushing
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ideal question is an ongoing heated debate; my personal solution to that has always been to keep the small steps practical but work towards the ideal as much as you can – the ideal should act as a general guide of direction. Week’s discussion on Bloch’s proposal of a “concrete utopia” of the “real-possible” links utopian thinking to practical solutions. By doing so, he challenges the meaning that people usually attach to the world “utopia.” I am aware of the fact that I am using the words “ideal” and “utopian” interchangeably, which is what Week specifically advises us against in the article. In this case, I would argue that the specific word choice is perhaps not as clear-cut as he suggests. Even Bloch himself sometimes uses the terms interchangeably in his discussion of the “Not-Yet-Conscious” that fuels
however, differ considerably. The goal of Utopia is to illustrate the maintenance of an “ideal”
Each person has their own vision of utopia. Utopia means an ideal state, a paradise, a land of enchantment. It has been a central part of the history of ideas in Western Civilization. Philosophers and writers continue to imagine and conceive plans for an ideal state even today. They use models of ideal government to express their ideas on contemporary issues and political conditions. Man has never of comparing the real and ideal, actuality and dream, and the stark facts of human condition and hypothetical versions of optimum life and government.
Through the steady adversity faced by Candide, Voltaire brings up important questions about how the nature of optimism appears to commoners. Pangloss's philosophy of "the best of all possible worlds" - an example of the misleading
Chapter one explains more about the ability to use sociological perspective, build understanding to each unique person with different patterned lives. As a college student I’d hope to get a good job after I graduate, because sociology is a great development of knowledge for the real world. Sociology can help anyone prepare for communication and learn different factors of the real world we live in. Our economy is nothing but industrial and without socializing and communicating in being bigger and better than before, where would we be? We are nothing but expanding
This week’s readings consisted of The Forest and The Trees: Sociology as Life, Practice, and Promise by Allan Johnson, as well as “What is Applied Sociology” by Dr. Zuleyka Zevallos. Both readings address “doing something” as a sociologist, however, Johnson’s writing is more focused on the theoretical ideas behind movements while Zevallos’s writing focuses on the actual discipline of applied sociology (Johnson, 1997; Zevallos, 2015). These readings serve as a good source of guidance for individuals who are still undecided about what to do with their Sociology degree. While they do bring a certain call to action, it is different from the one brought by Liberation Sociology. Johnson’s call is more about working for change both within individuals
According to Durkheim, Social fact or social phenomenon are the main subject matter of sociology. He said in one of his pieces that social fact must be studied distinct from the biological and psychological phenomenon. Social order is the trend of behavior being used to exercise power over another person. It has become rules and regulations that have been set up by some authorities to be obeyed by another group of people who are being undermined in a society, it is a situation that oppressed people and limits them from their liberties. When people go through these situations they cannot function the way they are supposed to function because they are limited by their freedom. These social orders are not only laws but rather certain norms created by the authority to put a whole race into a situation where they are very far from freedom of speech, movement, and knowledge. African Americans are an example of a race that has been through discrimination at workplaces, schools, community etc. They are one race which has been a label or put in a class where the situation will never permit you to climb the ladder of success. Although you might have all the certification, qualification, the best schools, etc. but the fact that you came from the poor class or the lower class, it becomes very difficult for the Caucasian people to give you the opportunity you deserve, because of this, the citizens of American have been grouped into different classes which are upper, middle, working,
Sociology and psychology is the study of the mind and the environment around us which makes us who we are. These theories assist us to understand behaviour from individual and societal levels.
Every person has their own personal vision of utopia. My utopia may be filled with libraries and cats, while yours would probably look very different. In Frankenstein, Shelley gives us Victor Frankenstein, a man who envisions a world where he will never feel the pain of losing someone he loves again. He devises a way to cheat
I think that Berger believes that curiosity is the driving force of sociology. It is what causes sociologists to conduct the studies that they do. Sociologists study society society as a whole and the interactions, problems, and other aspects within it. Berger argues that sociology can be viewed as dangerous because it can go into topics and ideas that could be potentially sacred or uncomfortable. Sociologists can be viewed as dangerous for their interests in these topics, or the people involved in the topics. Some discoveries and observations may be made that are shocking and that some people may not particularly like. Sociology can also be dangerous because it can be used both for the advancement of humanity
Throughout time many sociologist have been noted to be strong contributors of what we know as sociology today. People from Max Weber, Emile Durkheim, and Karl Marx all where very well known sociologist in their time that had many ideas that contributed to the evolution of sociology. But in the 50’s there came a man by the name C. Wright Mills who went against the vast majority of concepts and ideas that were considered the foundation of sociology. He specifically went against the ideas of sociologist in the east coast being at the time that sociologist on the west and east had different viewpoints on what sociology was. Leaning more to the sociological ideologies of the west coast C. Wright Mills published a book called “The Sociological Imagination”
The most significant thing I’ve learned in sociology is that based on our background it will influence our behavior, way of looking at things and life chances. For example when I looked at income by race I was expecting everything to be equal, but I was wrong. I will use this new knowledge to better understand people and the struggles they have to face in society that other people aren’t aware of. An idea to establish harmonious relations among the many ethnic groups in America is basically what I’ve learned from my mom the golden rule “treat everyone the way you want to be treated”. It’s more than just being kind to people it’s also a way of knowing that everyone is equal and no one is better than the other. The best way I think I can do to
After reviewing the article titles given for this first assignment, I believe they indicate that Sociology, generally speaking, is not only a study of diversity or commonality in traits among people; it is also a science about factors in a person’s life and how these factors culminate responses. Interestingly enough, its topics of concern seem to be directly determined by current and common events of the world. Through the invention and expansion of new ideas, popular trends and fashions through time, Sociology adapts to responsibly to service the very subjects of interest it studies; for, even the slightest change of a person’s daily experience can have an insurmountable impact on attitude, personal growth, family
As I reflect on sociology 100, I realized that this is truly a course that opens up one 's mind. I admire the fact that this course really going to teach me a lot. I was really scared to take this class because honestly I had no idea what Sociology is? I never took this class but my professor made it easy and he made very clear that how we can keep an A in the class and what he expects from us. The first week of the class was just about the syllabus and what chapter we gonna cover throughout the semester. In total we studied nine chapter. They all helped me a lot to understand the true meaning of sociology and why it is useful. The first chapter was The Social Imagination, The second chapter was Studying the Social World, The third chapter was Social Interaction, The fourth chapter was Social Structure, The Fifth chapter was Culture, Media and Communication, The sixth chapter was Power and Politics, The seventh chapter was Social Stratification, Inequality and Poverty, The eight chapter was Race and Ethnicity and last but not least was Gender and Sexuality. I will just discuss the what I found most interesting, why they are important. First of all What is sociology? Really? I never asked this question to myself until the first day of class. Sociology is the study of "social behavior or society, including its origins, development, organization, networks and institutions." It allows you to go to different paths, it affects how we talk, it helps us to understand what 's going
Sociology and sociological thinking are a vital part of society, and through examining both society and individuals, sociology is able to make changes to areas such as policies, and attitudes that may have usually negatively affected them, and instead gained a positive result through the careful research, and applied knowledge.
According to the Institute for Social Ecology, a utopian impulse can be defined as “a response to existing social conditions and an attempt to transcend or transform those conditions to achieve an ideal” (www.social-ecology.org). In other words, such a compulsion is seamlessly epitomized by the popular cliché: “make the world a better place.” In a perfect world, we would possess the liberty to exercise our utopian impulses both inwardly and outwardly. A private utilization of such idealistic visions (i.e. daydreams), according to Fredric Jameson in his essay “The Politics of Utopia,” can be referred to as “mental play.” When we engage in mental play, we tinker political institutions the same way a small child plays with “Lego[es]” (Jameson 40) or building blocks: we continuously tear down and rebuild what we have sculpted, never reaching the point of complete satisfaction.. However, mental play can lead us down a dangerous path of complacency in which we become content to remain in our present circumstances as long as we can maintain the ability to live within our daydreams. Outward displays of utopian impulse, or as summarized by Ernest Bloch in The Principle of Hope as “future-orientated...action…[which] can be found in the overstepping of boundaries” (www.utopianimpulse.blogspot.com), are inhibitory against such inactivity and it is in times of what Jameson would describe as “general impotence and powerlessness” (Jameson 44), when we have the clearest view of the flawed