QUESTION: Sociological theory has been shaped with the social context. Discuss the main sociological context you know that have been developed by Karl Marx, Max Weber, Emile Durkheim and Georg Simmel.
QUESTION: Sociological theory has been shaped with the
social context. Discuss the main sociological context you know that have been
developed by Karl Marx, Max Weber, Emile Durkheim and Georg Simmel.
BY CHIWAMBO AUSI R.
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
-Historical background of sociological theory
-Definition of sociological theories
MAIN BODY
-Sociological context that has developed by:-
KARL MARX
-Social change
-Conflict
theory
MAX WEBER
-Rationalization
-Bureaucracy
EMILE DURKHEIM
-Suicide
-Social
solidarity
GEORG SIMMEL
-Interactionism
-Phylosophy
of money
CONCLUSION
REFERENCES
BACKGRAUND
Sociological
theories are those modern theories
that are based on empirical evident aiming to evaluate social issues within our
society for benefit of the present and future time, and it developed by various
scholar in the 1800s and 1900s. Examples of scholars who developed these
sociological theories are Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, Max Weber, and Georg
Simmel.
Therefore, the following are the definition
of sociological theories:-
Sociological theory is defined as a set
of interrelated ideas that allows for systematization of knowledge of the
social world. This knowledge is used to explain the social world and make
prediction about the future of the social world (Robert O. Keel, 2011).
Sociological theory is complex
theoretical and methodological frameworks used to analyze and explain object of
social study. Examples of sociological theories are conflict theory, critical
theory, feminist theory, functionalism theory, and rational choice theory (http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/introduction-to-sociological-theory)
Therefore, sociological theory can be defined as a
complex theoretical framework that is used to explain social theories through
empirical formula (scientific method) and making judgments.
Therefore, it is true that “Sociological
theory has been shaped with the social context”. The following are the main
sociological contexts that have been developed by Karl Marx, Max Weber, Emile
Durkheim and Georg Simmel:-
KARL MARX
Karl Marx
developed social issues such as “conflict theory and social change” as
follows:-
CONFLICT
THEORY
Conflict theory
was the theory introduced by Karl Marx in the book “Communist Manifesto”, 1848,
(George Ritzer and Douglas J. Googman, 2004c). Conflict theory argues that society is not best understood as a complex
system striving for equilibrium but rather as a competition. Society is made up
of individuals competing for limited resources. (http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/conflict-theory).
According to Karl Marx (1818-1883), in any societies there are two major
social groups: a ruling class and a subject class. The ruling class derives its
power from its ownership and control of the forces of production. The ruling
class exploits and oppresses the subject class (lower class). As a result there
is a basic conflict of interest between these two classes.
All in all, conflict theory rose
when exploitation of capitalist and existing government being increase to lower
class or workers, and the exploitative in order to reduce and removal those
kinds off injustice, they require forming movements and overthrowing existing
government.
Karl Marx
believed that, economic and political analysis of capitalism is the main causes
of conflict theory. This is due to forced labour, long working hours, low wages
and poor working condition which under capitalism system.
Conflict theory
still exist in Tanzania today and shaped our social context as we see in our
country now days there are various riots between workers and employer or
government vases Hawkers (in Swahili language we call “wamachinga”) in the city
like Mwanza, Arusha, and Mbeya.
SOCIAL CHANGE
Social change it
is essential feature of capitalism which existing all over the world. Under
this system, the means of production and distributing goods such as land,
factory technology, and transport system are owned by a small minority of
people, we refer this group of people as the capitalist class.
Functionalist
social theory tends to regard these economic activities as mundane necessity to
support cultural that depend upon it. Karl Mark believes that all society which
was under communist one the production of goods was structured on the way that
to produce great benefit for minority. Through this theory we can use it to
understand how capitalism leads to social change up to this present and how
people are exploited under capitalism.
MAX WEBER
Max Weber
explained about “rationalization, and social solidarity”. All this two
explained as follow:-
RATIONALIZATION
Rationalization
is the term used in sociology to refer to the process in which an increasing
number of social actions become based on considerations of teleological
efficiency or calculation (clarification needed) rather than on motivation divided
from morality, emotion, custom or tradition. Many sociologists regard it as a
central aspect of modernity, manifested especially in western society as a
behavior or the capitalist market of ration administration in the state and
bureaucracy.
The rationally
com from Weber’s ideas, during his work. Weber tries to explain about the
rationalization with the consideration of three categories such as bureaucracy,
religion, and society. Because these things found and be applied by human being
every day in their life. Due to rationalization is among of social context,
means something used in our society today Weber used rationalization to explain
thee types of legitimate authority in the society. In this Weber described
legitimate as “the publicly reasons for obeying or complaining with the command
issue from the authority”.
In tradition
authority, Weber explains how power generated in tradition authority. This is
where as legal system from the legitimacy of the rational legal system.
Tradition authority is based on a claim by the leaders, and belief on the part
of the following; these explain how pennon can create followers as tradition
leader on the society. Also in our society there are good examples of
traditional leader like chief Mkwawa through, he has enough ability to mobilize
people and except he said, and this traditional authority can be rule by elders
or inherit positions.
Charismatic
authority; this is the concept that is come to be used every broadly (Sakes,
1997; Werbner and Basu, 1998). The person who has ordinary supernatural power,;
means that someone who can be respected and his/her power to control people in
the society.
In this, there
is no need to find thus supernatural power found. But its automatically happen
(spontaneously) to any person. In our society today and pass through history
and best events there are sample this charismatic issues like J. K. Nyerere in Tanzania , also there is somebody known as
Mwanamarundi in Mwanza Tanzania
BUREAUCRACY
The theory of
bureaucracy was founded by Max Weber a Germany
According to
Weber’s bureaucracy is a normal way that legal rational authority appears in
constitutional form (organized way), it plays central role in ordering and
controlling modern organizations. He meant a construct or mode that service as
a measuring rod against with actual cases can be evaluated. Weber proposed that whether at his purpose it
is to run a church, a corporation or any army that the ideal can be applied.
Weber studying
bureaucracy as a power, he reflects type of power and authority which figures
our society today. By studying Weber’s theory of bureaucracy we can understand
better why in today’s society contain people hold more or high authority than
others.
EMILE DURKHEIM
Emile Durkheim
was discussed two social context such as “suicide and social solidarity”. This
are:-
SUICIDE
Suicide is the
act or instance of killing one self, and that can be in internationally level
or within a country. This theory was developed by Emile Durkheim. He founded
that lack of social integration, group involvement and collective consciousness
as the reasons for high suicide in the mid of 18th century up to 19th
century.
But the reasons
highlighted by Durkheim as the causes of suicide are even applicable in modern
society. And the people who commit suicide in high rate is unmarriage compared
to marriage one as we see now days. According to Durkheim analyzed three types
of suicide such as anomie suicide, egoistic suicide and anomie suicide. Particular
in Palestine , Afghanistan ,
Iraq , Somalia , and Nigeria
SOCIAL SOLIDARITY
Emile Durkheim
(1858-1917) was the most prominent French sociologist of 19th
century. He was erudite scholar, great thinker, who comes up with the theory of
solidarity. Social solidarity refers to the integration and degree or type of
the integration manifest by society group. The bases of social solidarity are
different and complex societies. He made a comparison between the primitive and
the civilized by “mechanical solidarity based on the conscience collective” and
the advanced society is characterized by organic solidarity based on the
division of labour.
As defined by
Durkheim, mechanical solidarity refers to social solidarity based upon
homogeneity of value and behavior. Strong social constraint, and loyalty to
tradition and kinship while social solidarity refers to the types of societal
solidarity typically in modern industrial society, in which unity is based on
the interdependence of every larger number of high specialized roles in the
system involving a complex division of labour that require the cooperation of
almost all group and individual of the society.
This theory is
still applicable until now in the society, this is due to the fact that
individual in the society has similarities, people do not differ much. Also
solidarity is highly needed in the society because it encourages development.
GEORG SIMMEL
Georg Simmel
introduced two ideas such as “symbolic interactions” and “the philosophy of
money”. George Simmel explained as follows:-
SYMBOLIC INTERACTION
The idea of
symbolic interaction was introduced by Georg Simmel (1859-1918), shown by
George Ritzer and Douglas J. Googman, (2004c) in the book Sociological Theory.
Simmel explained interactions in form of political, economic, religion, and
sexual behavior. Simmel considered society to be an association of free
individuals and said that it could not be studied in the same way as the
physical world. Simmel also continued to say “society is made up of the
interactions between and among individuals, and the sociologist should study
the parttens and form of these association rather than request after social law
(Farganis, 1993:133).
This statement
emphasis on social interaction at the individual and small level, and viewing
the study of these interactions are the primary task. Georg Simmel explained
idea of interaction by emphasis from individual levels (smallest level of
interaction) to largest level of institution. Example of small interaction can
be group of dyads (consist of only two people) or tried (consist of only three
members), and large scale interaction are like institution.
This theory is
applicable even today in our family and working place. The interactions of
workers from various organizations help them to exchange ideas, and then they have
ability implement it in their organization, hence increase of production and
services. Therefore, through interaction an individual can champion some
changes based on positive way which can lead to increase levels of development
in the society. This interaction can be the people of one culture and another
culture, organization and organization, blacks and white people, or can be
either student from various schools.
THE PHYLOSOPHY OF MONEY
“The philosophy
of money” was the book and theory of money which was written by Georg Simmel
(1859-1918), shown by George Ritzer and Douglas J. Googman, (2004c). Philosophy
of money stand as an idea developed by him emphasis on money, and its important
and consequence to the society all over the world.
In this book,
Simmel is concerned with money as a symbol, and what some of the effects
of this are for people and society. In modern society, money becomes an
impersonal or objectified measure of value. This implies impersonal, rational
ties among people that are institutionalized in the money form.
For example, relations
of domination and subordination become quantitative relationships of more and
less money (impersonal and measurable in a rational manner). The use of money
distances individuals from objects and also provides the means of overcoming
this distance. The use of money allows much greater flexibility for individuals
in society (to travel greater distances and to overcome person-to-person
limitations.)
Simmel thus suggests that “the spread of the money form gives
individuals a freedom of sorts by permitting them to exercise the kind of individualized control over
"impression management" that was not possible in traditional
societies. ... Ascribed identities have been discarded. Even strangers become familiar and knowable
identities insofar as they are willing to use a common but impersonal means of
exchange”. (Ashley and Orenstein, 1990:326)
At the same time, personal
identity becomes problematic, so that development of the money form has both
positive and negative consequences. That is, individual freedom is potentially
increased greatly, but there are problems of alienation, fragmentation, and
identity construction.
Simmel concluded that, “a society in which money becomes an end, in
itself can cause individuals to become increasingly cynical and to have the
blasé attitude,( George Ritzer
and Douglas J. Googman, 2004c).
By relating in our society we
live today, a person who have money become the controller of the system
production such as industrial, and medias like Newspaper and television. Examples is Regnand Mengi in Tanzania own
more than one media (such as Capital television, Chanel 5, ITV Daima, and
Newspaper including The Guardian and Nipashe) and factories or industry
including Bonite Bottles industry dealing with production of drinks, present in
Moshi-Kilimanjaro region.
CONCLUSION
The sociological theories are
most important because it explained reality of our lives in modern societies
and try to come with the solution of the phenomena or problem which arose in
the society. Also it leads us to learn the earliest peoples who succeeded in
such phenomena by follow their ways of succession.
REFERENCES
Farganis, J.(1993), Readings
Macionis, J. J. and Plummer, K.
(2008), Sociology “A Global Introduction”, 4th Edition,
London, Pearson Education Limited.
Ritzer, G. and
Goodman, J. D. (2004c), Sociological Theory, 6th Edition, University
of
Maryland & Puget Sound, McGraw
Hill Publisher
Schaefer, R. T.
(2008), sociology Matters, 3rd Edition, New York
Shankar Rao, C.
N. (2006),Sociology: a principles of sociology with an introduction to
Social thought, 6th
Edition, Indian university, Rejendra Ravindra and S. Chand
Press.
McGree, R. J. and Warms, R. L. (2004),
Anthropological Theory; an introductory history,
3rd
Edition, Southwest
Taxas State
University
Bilton, T., Bonnett, K.,Jones, P, Lawson, T.,
Skinner, D.,Stanworth, M.,and Wedster, A.
(2002), Introductory Sociology,
4th Edition, New York
Knapp, P., (1992) One World -- Many Worlds: Contemporary Sociological Theory
Ritzer, and George, (1992) Sociological Theory, third
edition, McGraw-Hill ,
New York
powered by CHIWAMBO AUSI R, MAY 2012, TEOFILO KISANJI UNIVERSITY (TEKU).
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