What did Georg Simmel seek to demonstrate through his “formal” sociology?

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.

Throughout history, Georg Simmel and W.E.B. Du Bois have had a substantial influence on imperative theories and concepts developed in the area of social sciences. Two of the most significant and distinguished concepts fostered by both of these theorists are the concepts of “double consciousness” and “the stranger”. In this essay, I will be analyzing each of these works to draw upon differences and similarities concerning the two. The resemblances I will be expanding on are the usage of the paradoxical figure, which both theorists discuss in their theories, and the coexisting sensation of division from conventional society. The contrast between the two theories in which I will be exploring is the perception that conventional society

The theoretical works of Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim and Max Weber still influence sociological theory. Though their works are decades old they still are a major part of what sociology is today. Though their theories can seem very different, there are some similarities. To become a great sociologist one most learn and understands how to use all sociological perspectives. To do this one must understand and use the different theoretical perspectives created by Marx, Durkheim, and Weber.

Sociology has its unique perspectives and each perspective makes sense on its own basis. From the three perspectives which are called conflict theory, symbolic interactionism, and functionalism the one that makes most sense to me is symbolic interactionism. Symbolic interactionism as stated in the book is, “[A] theoretical perspective in which society is viewed as composed of symbols that people use to establish meaning, develop their views of the world and communicate with one another.” The sociological perspective of symbolic interactionism was developed by Charles Horton Cooley and George Herbert Mead. Symbolic interactionism is analyzed at a microsociological level unlike conflict theory and functionalism.

He believed that particular and distinguishing traits form in a group of people who communicate and relate to one another, and thus forming several types of individuals. Simmel concluded that a society is no more than the individuals who make it up; he also emphasized that people in groups of differing sizes interact differently with one another. He shares some similarities to Durkheim when regarding the problem between the individual and society. To him, sociology is more than the discovery and analysis of the natural laws that conduct human interaction, it must study the different aspects of phenomena in groups rather than larger, more global occurrences. Simmel prioritizes the interactions happening at the individual level and the small group level since, according to him, the social group in which the individuals belong to represent the natural separation as human

Sociology is the function of the human society, and social problems among us. There are three different theories that I will be discussing in this essay. The theories are symbolic interactionism, The conflict theory and functional analysis perspectives. These perspectives help make up the way society thinks as a whole. All three of these perspectives are alike, as much as they are different.

The work of Max Weber (1864-1920) provides a good example of thinking sociologically with a sensitivity to history. Weber, amongst a wide variety of interests (Beilhartz 1992b: 225) was concerned with the changing nature of authority in the western Europe of his time. By examining other societies, and more particularly, by looking at the nature of authority in the pre-modern West, Weber was able to describe authority as increasingly resting upon a "legal-rational" basis - where rulership is based on formal rules possessing legal backing. This stood in contrast to earlier authority systems which relied either on traditional (such as monarchs relying on familial links) or charismatic (based on extraordinary personal characteristics of the individual leader) emphases (Beilhartz 1992b: 226, Willis 1999: 5). At another level, theories such as these help to explain to why people do as their boss asks even when they don't understand why they're directed a particular way. Another example of the historical awareness within sociology is the present focus upon the concept of post-modernity, which by its very title proclaims its embeddedness in time.

Georg Simmel and George Herbert Mead are famously influential sociologists who made significant contributions to the exploration of society, the construction and established theories of society and the way individual people act within a society. Both of the sociologists were interested in the way that people create the society and the laws used to govern from within. Despite the similarity of the subject studied, the scientist took very different approaches in their research and beliefs. I’ve even heard of them referenced as the “ying and yang of sociology”. Mead is considered the paradigm of symbolic interaction using a pragmatic approach in his research, Simmel focuses on duality and is often referred to as one of the founders of

In this sense, society relies on the reciprocal relations of humans. Society is derived from these reciprocal interactions and does not precede them. Society operates through our refraction and manifests through our actions. (Simmel) Building off a traditional Hobbesian view, human society is distinct from a ‘personal’ phase, rather it is deeply socially constructed. Society consists of interrelated activities in which humans can act in accordance with each other as well as against each other. Society is not a collection of individual humans nor a system of institutions. For Weber, society is in the interactions, not in the institutions. Society generates norms and values which influence human conduct, which is constantly being built through interaction. From the symbolic interaction perspective, there is no moral judgment placed on interaction.

In Peter Berger's "Invitation to Sociology", the sociological perspective was introduced. Berger asserts that it is important to examine new or emotionally or morally challenging situations from a sociological perspective in order to gain a clearer understanding of their true meanings. This perspective requires a person to observe a situation through objective eyes. It is important to "look beyond" the stereotypical establishments of a society and focus on their true, hidden meanings. Consideration of all the hidden meanings of social customs, norms, deviations and taboos, allow one to establish an objective image about the truth behind it. This method can also be applied to understanding people. This questioning, Berger says, is the

Georg Simmel and Max Weber will first be addressed individually to outline their lives and their works. Even though Simmel and Weber both were born in the same country, they led different lives. The obvious differences among Simmel and Weber are seen in their younger years of their lives. While their works are different, they may have been working for a similar result. Simmel and Weber are now considered to have made an historic impact in the sociological world. Their individual contribution to the sociological work has been significant and will be discussed in sociology classes forever. This paper will outline the differences and similarities of Georg Simmel and Max Weber.

There are a number of different modern social theories regarding the nature of society, social change, human's place within society and the idea of how integration and alienation fit within a modern society. These paradigms combine reflexively into a notion of history. Max Weber was a German politician, scholar, economist, and sociologist. In fact, he founded the modern studies of sociology, public administration, and organizational theory. He was born in 1864 and so was writing and publishing after Marx, but still looking at capitalism, socialism, and the various dictates of society as ways humans are shaped, actualized, and able to have upward mobility. He is most famous for his works surrounding the sociology of religion and government, and how those two institutions shaped, controlled, and contributed to humankind.

Before commencing a discussion on analyzing the article “What makes sociology a different discipline” from the other sciences we should have the know-how about sociology. In the words of modern thinkers of sociology namely Karl Marx, Max Weber and Emile Durkheim “Social fact should be the subject matter for the study of social life and can provide explanations for human thinking and behavior (p19)”. What we infer from the above definition is that man is born as a social animal. Man cannot live alone. He prefers to live in groups and his behavior that is actions and deeds are well governed and regulated by certain rules and laws of conduct that comprises of moral ethics and civic standards. His standard of living is said to be within the

People now, feel that their personal lives become contain a lot of difficulties and have some of the problems. Normal people are eager to job and their family. Neither the life of a person nor the historical backdrop of a general public can be comprehended without comprehension both. People not only need skills or information but they are also need the quality of mind that will help them to use this information and skills. The writer defines “the sociological imagination” as empowers its owner to comprehend the historical scene as far as its importance for the internal life and outer profession of an assortment of people. The lesson of the sociology which encapsulates sociological imagination is the real thought that the individual can comprehend

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