Department of Sociology, Spring 2010 Instructor: Dan Lainer-Vos, [email protected] Office Hours: Thursday 9-11, 348E KAP Class: Tuesday and Thursday 2:00-3:20 GFS101

Teaching assistant: TBA Office Hours: TBA Discussion sections: TBA

SOCI 370: Introduction to Sociological Theory

This course provides an introduction to key classical sociological thinking. We will review the writings of Karl Marx, Émile Durkheim, Max Weber and a few of their prominent disciples. These thinkers, working in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, established sociology as an academic discipline. Living in a period of great economic, political, and social transformation, these thinkers attempted to understand the emerging new social order and the condition of life in modernity. The questions they raised, the problems they identified, and even some of their solutions still shape our understanding of society. To link the course more directly to current events we will try to think about the current economic crisis in light of the thoughts of Marx, Durkheim, and Weber.

The structure of the course follows the different approaches of Marx, Durkheim, and Weber. Marx’s sociological theory is emancipatory. As such, it claims to speak in the name of certain oppressed groups (in Marx’s case this group is the proletariat, but we will examine other examples, such as Marxist Feminist theory). This point of view is not just a matter of moral principle: Marx believed that society is best understood from the point of view of the oppressed. Moreover, he believed that properly understanding this point of view offers a key for social change. The role of sociology, from this perspective, is not just to understand society, but to fundamentally emancipate it from oppression — hence their name.

Durkheim’s approach to sociology is different. Durkheim attempted to establish sociology after the model of positivist natural sciences. Positivist theoreticians, including Durkheim, do not claim to speak in anybody’s name. They believe their authority to speak derives from scientific expertise. Instead of linking themselves to different groups, they believed that the best view from which to understand society in from above. Only from this perspective, they believed, can objective sociological knowledge be accumulated. Durkehim did not believe in emancipation. To the extent that he was interested in social change, he sought reform rather than revolution. The role of sociology, from this perspective, is to positively apply scientific method toward discovering and describing the rules that govern societies — hence the term “positivism.”

Weber’s sociological approach breaks away from both emancipatory and positivist thought. Weber’s perspective can be described as “critical theory.” Unlike emanicipatory theoreticians, Weber does not claim to speak on behalf of any oppressed social group but

1 he does not adopt the positivist point of view from above either. In fact, Weber and other critical theoreticians doubt the very possibility of objective representation of society. They do not believe in neither emancipation (which they characterize as a dream which turned into a nightmare), nor in reform (which they characterize as the pragmatism of the mouse on the turning wheel). Disillusioned with the promise of emancipation and positivism, Weber is deeply ambivalent about the role of sociological theory.

This overly schematic description of the three main sociological approaches that will be studied in class hides more than reveals. What is society? What is it made of? What is the dominant relations in society? And how should societies be studied? During the semester, we will try to understand Marx, Durkheim and Weber’s answers to these questions.

Course Requirements and grading

There will be two assignments (midterm and final) and a final exam, each worth 25% of the final grade. Additional class presentation (in groups) will be worth 15% of your grade. The remaining 10% will be awarded on the basis of class attendance and participation. In addition, you must show up to class in a timely manner, and having already read the materials assigned for that week.

In addition, in order to provide you with background knowledge for our discussion about the current economic crisis, please listen to two episodes from “This American Life” that explain how we got into this mess: The Giant Pool of Money: http://www.thisamericanlife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?episode=355 And Another Frightening Show about the Economy: http://www.thisamericanlife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?sched=1263 For a small fee you can download these shows to your mp3 players. Otherwise you can listen to them for free online.

In the midterm and final exam you will be required to define a few concepts, answer 2-3 short question and write a short essay in response to a discussion question. The final assignment will ask you to write an essay comparing the theories from a particular angle.

We will devote three classes to discuss the current economic crisis. After leaning about Marx’s sociological theory, a third of the class (divided to groups of 5) will present their own interpretation of how Marx’s thought can or cannot help us in understanding the mess we are in. After reading Durkheim, another third of the class will present their analysis and after reading Weber’s theory the last third of the class will present their analysis.

Applying classical theory to current events is not a trivial matter but it may help us understand why classical theory is still relevant today. I do not expect you to do it all on your own—the readings do not really inform you about this task. Therefore, you should use my office hours frequently to discuss your interpretations as we progress in the material.

2 A week prior to your presentation you HAVE to attend my office hours and present a draft of your planned presentation. Class presentations should be no longer than 10 minutes. All members of the group must take part in the presentation. A written version of the presentation should be submitted at the end of the class.

Please make sure to use my office hours. The material covered in this class is not easy and is often more complex than it seems at first reading. If you have problems attending my office hours, we can schedule an alternative time to meet via email.

Statement for Students with Disabilities Any student requesting academic accommodations based on a disability is required to register with Disability Services and Programs (DSP) each semester. A letter of verification for approved accommodations can be obtained from DSP. Please be sure the letter is delivered to me as early in the semester as possible. DSP is located in STU 301 and is open 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The phone number for DSP is (213) 740-0776.

Statement on Academic Integrity USC seeks to maintain an optimal learning environment. General principles of academic honesty include the concept of respect for the intellectual property of others, the expectation that individual work will be submitted unless otherwise allowed by an instructor, and the obligations both to protect one’s own academic work from misuse by others as well as to avoid using another’s work as one’s own. All students are expected to understand and abide by these principles. Scampus, the Student Guidebook, contains the Student Conduct Code in Section 11.00, while the recommended sanctions are located in Appendix A: http://www.usc.edu/dept/publications/SCAMPUS/gov/. Students will be referred to the Office of Student Judicial Affairs and Community Standards for further review, should there be any suspicion of academic dishonesty. The Review process can be found at: http://www.usc.edu/student-affairs/SJACS/.

Readings:

There are 3 books required for the course. 1) Robert C. Tucker, The Marx-Engels Reader. (New York: W.W. Norton, 1972); 2) Émile Durkheim, The Division of Labor in Society. (N.Y.: The Free Press, 1984 [1893]); 3) Max Weber, The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. (N.Y.: Charles Scribnher’s Sons, 1958 [1904-5]). Readings that are not part of these books are available on E-reserve, the password is “theory”.

Course Outline and Readings

Part I. Emancipatory Theory: Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels and Marxist feminism

Week 1 (January 12, 14): Introduction—what is sociological theory? How should we read theory? Readings: 1) “Preface to A Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy”, The Marx-Engels Reader, pp.3-6.

3 Week 2 (January 19, 21): The materialist conception of history Reading: 1) “The German Ideology,” The Marx-Engels Reader, pp.149-163, from the paragraph beginning with “The premises from which we begin…”

Week 3 (January 26, 28): The theory of alienation Reading: 1) Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts of 1844, “Estranged labor,” The Marx-Engels Reader, pp.70-81. 2) “The Meaning of Human Requirements,” The Marx-Engels Reader pp.93- 98 paragraph ending with “the British police.” 3) The Holy Family, “Alienation and Social Classes”, The Marx-Engels Reader, pp.133-135.

Week 4 (February 2, 4): The theory of exploitation and the origins and dynamic of capitalism Reading: 1) “Wage Labour and Capital,” The Marx-Engels Reader, pp.203-217. 2) The German Ideology, The Marx-Engels Reader, pp.176-186.

Week 5 (February 9, 11): The theory of exploitation (continued) Reading: 1) Capital Vol.1, “The so-called Primitive Accumulation,” Marx-Engels Reader, pp.431-438.

Week 6 (February 16, 18): The theory of classes and class struggle Reading: 1) The Communist Manifesto, The Marx-Engels Reader, pp.473-483 2) Capital Vol.3, “Classes”, The Marx-Engels Reader, pp.441-442. Mid-term assignment will be distributed in class (February 16)

Week 7 (February 23, 25 [economic crisis discussion]) The problem of women Reading: 1) Heidi Hartmann, 1981“The unhappy marriage of Marxism and Feminism,” Pp. 1-42 in Women and the Revolution: A Discussion of the Unhappy Marriage of Marxism and Feminism, edited by Lydia Sargent. Boston: south end Press. Mid-term assignment is due in class (February 23).

Part II. Positivist Theory: Émile Durkheim and Erving Goffman

Week 8 (March 2, 4): The study of social facts and the problem of solidarity Reading: 1) “What is a Social Fact”, pp.50-59 in The Rules of Sociological Method. 2) “The Method of Determining this Function” pp.11-39 in The Division of Labor in Society.

Week 9 (March 9, April 11): From mechanic to organic solidarity and the problem of anomie Reading: 1) The Division of Labor in Society, pp. 61-64, pp.126-165, pp. 172-174, pp. 242-244, pp. 291-328.

4 Week 10 (March 23, 25): Collective representations and the cult of the individual Reading: 1) The Elementary Forms of Religious Life, pp. 207-241; 361-367. 2) “Individualism and the intellectuals” pp. 43-57 in Emile Durkheim on Morality and Society.

Week 11 (March 30, April 1 [economic crisis discussion]): The self as a sacred object Reading: 1) Erving Goffman, “Supportive and Remedial Interchange,” pp. 62-94 in Relations in Public.

Part II. Critical Theory: Max Weber

Week 12 (April 6, 8): The theory of rationalization and disenchantment Reading: 1) The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, pp.13-125, pp. 155-183.

Week 13 (April 13, 15): Class and Rank Reading: 1) “Class, Status, Party,” pp. 180-195, in From Max Weber.

Week 14 (April 20, 22): Domination and bureaucracy Reading: 1) “The types of legitimate domination,” pp. 212-216, pp. 226-231, pp. 241- 254, in Economy and Society vol. 1. 2) “Bureaucracy,” pp. 196-244 in From Max Weber.

Week 15 (April 27, 29 [economic crisis discussion]): The McDonalidization of Society Reading: 1) George Ritzer The McDonaldization of Society: an Investigation Into the Changing Character of Contemporary Social Life,” pp. 1-12, pp. 185-212. Final assignment is distributed

May 5: Final assignment is due in KAP 352.

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