The Constitution Of Society : Outline Of The Theory

Sociology is the study the different aspects of humanity and society. It encompasses a very broad and varying range of topics. It can be studied on a large world-wide scale spanning across several countries, which is called Macrosociology. It can also be studied on a small scale looking at only individual families or neighborhoods, which is called Microsociology. Not only does it peer into humans’ interactions with each other but examines why they act the way they do. It considers the environment, as well as how access to different luxuries can contribute to the people that we become. In this fascinating field there are three primary views on exactly what the fundamental driving force behind society is. Symbolic Interactionalism, the belief that symbols and the meaning that they are given, define how we will perceive life, in this philosophy these meanings are influenced by society and the events of individual lives. Functional Analysis, views society as any other organism, in this theory all parts of the whole must work together cohesively to function. Conflict theory takes a somewhat opposite view than Functionalism, this perspective suggests that rather than wanting to work in unison, society’s underlying motive is a power struggle for resources. Over the course of this paper the reader will explore these different perspectives.

Luckmann argues against Schutz rejecting his view that society is only an inter-subjective reality. Luckmann points out that Schutz sees all of society socially constructed by individuals that create the society which then takes on a life of its own. Luckman sees Schutz as failing to see the the structures in society that constrain us to become an individual in society, for example laws in the Catholic Church about homosexual relations.

Sociology is defined as ‘The study of human social life, groups and societies’ (Giddens, 1989). It involves describing and analysing how different forces such as social, cultural, political, and economic have on behaviour and an individuals identity. (Van Kreiken et al.2000). Furthermore, it encompasses the complex connections on a micro level along with those on a macro level thus enabling sociological imagination.

One of the main sociological theories is functionalism. Functionalism is a macro-consensus theory. The fact that it is ‘macro’ means it analyses society through social institutions such as: peer groups, education, workplace, mass media and religion, and the fact that it is ‘consensus’ means functionalists focus on the harmony is society ad see society working as a human body would [https://www.thoughtco.com/functionalist-perspective-3026625]. They claim society is made up of interrelated parts that work together to maintain homeostasis. Functionalists see the world through rose-tinted glasses so focus on the stability, harmony and continuity of society as a whole. Hence, they have a positive outlook on society. However, a drawback to functionalism is that it doesn’t look at or focus on an individual and their role in society. This theory can be linked to social stratification. Social stratification is a concept which focuses on the existence of structural inequalities within society. The most distinctive form of this comes via the social class, the division of society into the upper, middle and lower/working class. Also, society can be stratified according to age, gender and ethnicity [Bottero, W. 2005:03]. This shows the link between an individual and society as it proclaims that society is positively layered

People in present society are divided up into different positions in the work force. Durkheim sees society from a structural functionalist perspective and refers to society as a system of different organs, each with a

Imagine a double headed arrow. The arrow at the bottom, pointed down, is the individual. This individual is connected to something bigger, the upward arrow. This upward arrow explains the social system or “larger than us”. Johnson (1999) explains “We are always participating in something larger than ourselves…to understand social life and what happens to people in it, we have to understand what it is that we’re participating in and how we participate in it.” (39). To picture this, Johnson (1999) uses the analogy of a forest stating, “…a forest is simply a collection of individual trees… a collection of trees that exist in a particular relation to one another,” (39). He goes on to say that “…the key to understanding social life isn’t just the forest and it isn't just the trees. It’s the forest and the trees and how they're related to one another.” (Johnson 1999: 39). This is sociology and the rule that people are not systems and systems are not people (Johnson 1999).

The structure and agency debate is a common one in the field of sociology and different theorists come up with different ways of accounting for the actions of social actors. This essay takes the position that structuration solves the problem of this much contested debate. Initially key concepts and elements of structuration will be pointed out .These elements include structure, agency, social systems and power amongst many others. Subsequently, there will be engagement of a discussion of different schools of thought and finally it will be demonstrated how structuration prevails over the structure-agency debate.

All social interactions take place with a social structure, including those interactions that redefine social reality, for purposes of study, sociologist breaks down any social structure into six elements which are, Statues, Social Role, Groups, Social Networks, Virtual Worlds and Social Insinuations. Society is nothing more than the shared reality that people construct as they interact with other people, Society is a complex, ever-changing mosaic subjective meanings. Firstly, Status is a slot or position within a group or society. They tell us who people are and how they “fit” into groups, status can be ascribed or achieved. Secondly, Social roles are expectations for people who occupy a given social position or status, Thirdly Roles are a significant component of social structure, for Example her in Belize, we have the Belize Police Department, as to where by the police are expected to protect us and apprehend criminals. At fourth place we have Social Network which is the web of direct and indirect ties connecting an individual to other people who influence its

Social Construction is defined by Society: the Basics as “the process by which people creatively shape reality through social

Whenever decisions are made, there are always those who favor the decision, and those who oppose it. Things were no different with the Constitution. When the Constitution was written, the founders underwent a long process in order to explain how and when the Constitution would be applied. As a result of these discussions among the founders, two diverse groups were formed. One group favored a loose interpretation of the Constitution, and they believed that the government could use implied powers and that they were entitled to any powers that the Constitution did not explicitly forbid. These people wanted a stronger national government with more power. On the contrary, strict constructionists believed that the Constitution should be

The relationship between structure and agency is a key discussion point in sociology. The concept was brought to life by the sociologist Georg Simmel, but has been discussed by many other famous theorists, such as Emile Durkheim and Max Weber. The partnership between structure and agency are crucial to the development of society, and the process of individualization.

He contended that the financial base considerably resolute the social and political framework of a humanity. Consequent Marxist elucidations put forward a more complex connection that emphasized the relative objectivity of social and political groups, and an inclusive purpose by financial facets only (Mason, 2013). In 1905, the German sociologist Ferdinand Tönnies argued in his study that merely the constitution of a crowd into an accord generates a societal organization (Triplett, 2014). Émile Durkheim offered an idea that mixed social organizations and implements a played in guaranteeing the concrete consolidation of society from side to side integration of different parts into a cohesive and self-reproducing whole. The idea of social structure was widely advanced in the 20th century, by key aids from structuralist viewpoints drawing on the philosophies of Claude Lévi-Strauss, Feminist or Marxist perceptions, from functionalist perceptions such as those established by Talcott Parsons and his supporters, or from a range of logical viewpoints (Mason, 2013). The greatest persuasive efforts to syndicate the notion of social structure with support are Anthony Giddens ' theory of structuration and Pierre Bourdieu 's practice theory. This allows him to contend that structures are neither autonomous of performers nor defining of their conduct and which,

We as a human race have become a byproduct of our society. Through media, technology, and social pressure, humans no longer run society, but it seems like we are run by society. The quote from sociologist Peter Berger states “Not only do people live in society but society lives in them” This statement is referring to a form of social control were groups and the people in those groups conform to society partially knowingly and partially as a reflection based on dominant social expectations. As I further explain Berger’s statement I will explain how individuality, identity, and freedom fit in to such a predetermined future.

Simmel argues that ‘society exists as social forms that come through human interaction’ (1971). He was interested in the interactions between individuals within society over a period of

     The social constructionist perspective holds the view that the self is continuing "shaped and reshaped through interactions with others and involvement in social and cultural activities" (Wetherell & Maybin, 1996, p 220). Social constructionist is concerned with explicating the processes by which people come to describe, explain, or otherwise account for the world (including themselves) in which they live (Gergen, 1971). Thus, the social constructionist approach implies that the self is shaped by social interaction within historical, cultural and social contexts. Social constructionist's apply an analysis of societal level which explain the self through social relations. Conversely, the