SOC 723 - Classical Sociological Theory

Sociology 723
Seminar in Classical Sociological Theory

Instructor: Dmitri Shalin
https://www.unlv.edu/people/dmitri-shalin

Office: CBC-237, 895-0259, dmitri.shalin@unlv.edu
Office hours: Tuesday 3:00-4:00 p.m., 6:30-7:00 p.m., or by appointment
http://cdclv.unlv.edu/

SYLLABUS

EMPHASIS OF COURSE: The course is a comprehensive survey of classical sociological theory. It focuses on nineteenth and early twentieth century sociologists whose pioneering work set the stage for contemporary sociological analysis. The discussion centers on the interplay between the socio-historical context, biographical circumstances, and theoretical positions of early European and American sociologists. Special emphasis is made on the sociologists' grappling with the economic and political legacy of classical liberalism. Students are expected to be familiar with basic issues of sociological analysiss.

TEXTBOOK AND READINGS: George Ritzer, The Blackwell Companion to Major Social Theorists, Blackwell Publishers. This volume will serve as the textbook for the class. Students are advised to purchase the book. In the list that follows, required readings are marked with an asterisk (*). Other works are suggested for independent studies and/or work on term papers. Every effort is made to ensure that students can access the required readings in a digital format. A package of supplementary materials is posted on Canvas by the instructor.

REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING: A take-home mid-term exam is scheduled for the ninth week of the class. Students are expected to make a presentation on a course-related topic of their choice and lead the discussion on a set of focused readings posted on Canvas. At the end of the semester, students write a paper on the order of 10-15 double-spaced pages reflecting their class presentations. The final grade will reflect the student's class presentation, focused reading report, mid-term exam, final paper, and contribution to class discussions, with each coursework component given equal weight in evaluating student's overall performance.

LECTURES AND CLASS POLICIES:: Class lectures follow the course outline bellow. Class calendar, a conceptual guide to classical theorists, and the schedule of focused readings are posted on Canvas. Students are strongly encouraged to attend each class session, take part in class discussions, and familiarize themselves with the readings assigned for each session in advance of its coverage in class. Questions from students are welcome, both during class sessions and office hours.

LEEARNING OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES: At the end of course, students should be able to (1) analyze the political, economic, and social context of classical sociological theory; (2) place each classical theorist in his or her biographical and class setting; (3) define and apply key concepts comprising each theoretical perspective; (4) identify a research methodology distinguishing a given theoretical framework; (5) learn how to apply paradigmatic concepts to contemporary social phenomena; and (5) recognize the complexity of combining advocacy and scholarship in sociological research.

OUTLINE OF TOPICS:

1.         Introduction. The uses of classical sociological theory
2.         The liberal tradition and eighteenth-century social thought: Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau
3.         The quest for a science of society: Saint-Simon, Comte, Spencer
4.         Sociology as social criticism: Marx
5.         The rise of interpretative sociology: Weber
6.         The study of social integration: Durkheim
7.         The inquiry into micro-social forms: Simmel
8.         The crisis of liberalism and early American sociology: Mead
9.         The struggle against the exclusion: Martineau, Gilman and Du Bois
10.       Conclusion. Classical sociological theory in contemporary perspective

1. Introduction: The Uses of Classical Sociological Theory

*Merton. R. Social Theory and Social Structure, pp. 23-73.
*Nisbet, R. The Sociological Tradition, pp. 1-46.
*Ritzer, G., ed. "Introduction." The Blackwell Companion to Major Social Theorists.
*Giddens, A. "Classical Social Theory and the Origins of Modern Sociology."
*Isaksson. A. "Classical Sociology Through the Lens of Gendered Experiences."
*Shalin, D. "Erving Goffman, Fateful Action, and Las Vegas Gambling Scene."
*Shlain, D. "Identity Politics and Civic Imagination"
Shalin, D. "Critical Theory and the Pragmatist Challenge."
Shalin, D. "Hermeneutics and Prejudice: Heidegger and Gadamer in their Historical Setting."
Shalin, D. "Singing in the Flesh: Notes on Pragmatist Hermeneutics."
Shalin, D. "Interfacing Biography, Theory, and History: The Case of Erving Goffman."
Seidman, S. Liberalism and the Origins of European Social Theory, pp. 281-91
Martindale, R. The Nature and Types of Sociological Theory, Chs. 1, 3.
Jones, R. 1977. "On Understanding a Sociological Classic."
Shaskolsky, L. "The development of Sociological Theory in America: A Sociology of Knowledge Interpretation," pp. 6-30 in L. T. Reynolds and J. M. Reynolds, eds. The Sociology of Sociology.

2. The Liberal Tradition and Early Modern Social Thought: Tomas Hobbes and Jean-Jacques Rousseau

*Hobbes, T. Leviathan, pp. 76-79, 98-102, 129-147.
*Parsons, T. The Structure of Social Action, vol. 1, pp. 89-94.
*Rousseau, J. J. Discourse on the Origins of Inequality and Social Contract.
*Shalin, D. "Romanticism and the Rise of Sociological Hermeneutics."
*Shalin, D. "Liberalism, Affect Control, and Emotionally Intelligent Democracy."
Blau, A. "Hobbes's Practical Politics: Political, Sociological and Economistic Ways of Avoiding a State of Nature."
Mouritz, T. "Comparing the Social Contracts of Hobbes and Locke."
Hardwick, N. "Rousseau and the social contract tradition."
Li, S. "Thesis Title: Rousseau, In Search of the Authentic."
Barnes, H. "Sociology Before Comte: A Summary of Doctrines and an Introduction to the Literature."
Locke, Two Treatises on the Government.
Durkheim, E. Montesquieu and Rousseau.
Seidman, S. Liberalism and the Origins of European Social Theory, Pt. I.
Cassirer, E. Rousseau, Kant, and Goethe.
Nisbet, R. "Conservatism," pp. 80-117 in T. B. Bottomore and R. Nisbet, eds. A History of Sociological Analysis.
Zeitlin, I. M. Ideology and the Development of Sociological Theory, Chs. 3-4.

3. The Quest for a Science of Society: Henri de Saint-Simon, Auguste Comte, and Herbert Spencer

*Comte, A. August Comte and Positivism, ed. G. Lenzer, Chs. 3-6.
*Turner, J. et el. "The Sociology of Herbert Spencer."
*Saint-Simon, H. On Social Organization.
*Ritzer, G., ed. The Blackwell Companion to Major Social Theorists, pp. 21-7, 76-80.
*Spencer, H. The Study of Sociology, Chs. 1-3.
Spencer, H. The Principles of Sociology, Vol. 1.
Picon, A. et al. "Utopian Socialism, Social Science, and the Reconstruction of Society."
Schmaus, W. et al. "The Significance of Auguste Comte."
Stedman, J. "Saint Simon and the liberal origins of the socialist critique of Political Economy."
Turner, J. and Maryanski, A. "Explaining Socio-Cultural Evolution. The Limitations of Evolutionary Theory from Biology."
Schutt, R. and Turner, J. "Biology and American Sociology, Part I: The Rise of Evolutionary Thinking, its Rejection, and Potential Resurrection."
Cooley, C. "Reflections Upon the Sociology of Herbert Spencer."
Offer, J. Herbert Spencer and Social Theory.
Janowitz, M. "Sociological Theory and Social Control."
Coser, L.A. Masters of Sociological Thought, pp. 1-128.
Martindale, D. The Nature and Growth of Sociological Theory, Ch. 4.
Turner, J. H. and L. Beeghley, The Emergence of Sociological Theory, Chs. 1-5.

4. Sociology as Social Criticism: Karl Marx

*Marx, K. The Economic-Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844.
*Marx, K. The German Ideology, Pt. I.
*Marx, K. Grundrisse, Introduction.
*Marx, K. Capital, Vol. 1, Chs. 1, 2, 26, 32.
*Ritzer, G., ed. The Blackwell Companion to Major Social Theorists, Ch. 4.
*Burawoy, M. "For a Sociological Marxism: The Complementary Convergence of Antonio Gramsci and Karl Polanyi."
Tucker, C. "Marx and Sociology: Some Theoretical Implications."
Niemi, W. "Karl Marx's Sociological Theory of Democracy: Civil Society and Political Rights."
Wright, E. "Foundations of Class Analysis in the Marxist Tradition."
Wright, C. "The Significance and Shortcomings of Karl Marx."
Michael E. "Karl Marx's Radical Antisemitism."
Shalin, D. "Marxist Paradigm and Academic Freedom."
Shalin, D. "Critical Theory and the Pragmatist Challenge."
Seidman, S. Liberalism and the Origins of European Social Theory, Pt. II.
Coser, L. A. Masters of Sociological Thought, pp. 43-88.
Giddens, A. Capitalism and Social Theory, Pt. I.
Zeitlin, I. M. Ideology and the Development of Sociological Theory. Chs. 8-10.
Lowith, K. Max Weber and Karl Marx.

5. The Rise of Interpretive Sociology: Max Weber

*Weber, M. The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism.
*Weber, M. The Methodology of the Social Sciences.
*Weber, M. From Marx Weber: Essays in Sociology, Chs. 8, 9.
*Ritzer, G. ed. The Blackwell Companion to Major Social Theorists, Ch. 5.
*Shalin, D. "Romanticism and the Rise of Sociological Hermeneutics."
Shalin, D. "Critical Theory and the Pragmatist Challenge."
Loader, C. and J. Alexander. "Max Weber on Churches and Sects in North America: An Alternative Path toward Rationalization."
Shalin, D. "The Impact of Transcendental Idealism on Early German and American Sociology."
Kalberg, S. "Max Weber's Types of Rationality."
Gane, N. "Max Weber as Social Theorist: 'Class, Status, Party'."
Abel, T. "The Operation Called Verstehen"
Seidman, S. Liberalism and the Origins of European Social Theory, Pt. 4.
Coser, L.A. Masters of Sociological Thought, pp. 217-62.
Giddens, A. Capitalism and Social Theory, Pt. III.
Parsons, T. "Introduction," pp. XIX-LXVI, in M. Weber, The Sociology of Religion.
Lowith, K. Max Weber and Karl Marx.
Bendix, R. Max Weber: An Intellectual Portrait.
Mitzman, T. The Iron Cage: An Historical Interpretation of Max Weber.
Burger, T. "Max Weber, Interpretative Sociology, and the Sense of Historical Science: A Positivistic View."

6. The Analysis of Social Integration: Emile Durkheim

*Durkheim, E. The Division of Labor in Society.
*Durkheim, E. The Rules of Sociological Method.
*Durkheim, E. The Elementary Forms of Religious Life.
*Durkheim, E. Suicide.
*Ritzer, G. ed. The Blackwell Companion to Major Social Theorists, Ch. 6.
*Lehmann, J. "Durkheim's Theories of Deviance and Suicide: A Feminist Reconsideration."
Lehmann, J. "The Question of Caste in Modern Society: Durkheim's Contradictory Theories of Race, Class, and Sex."
Yahoda. G. "Mill versus Durkheim on the Methods of Social Sciences."
Marks, S. "Durkheim's Theory of Anomie."
Irmak, F. and T. Cam. "An Overview of Durkheim and Merton's Social Anomie."
Seidman, S. Liberalism and the Origins of European Social Theory, Pt. III.
Coser, L. A. Masters of Sociological Thought, pp. 129-76.
Giddens, A. Capitalism and Social Theory, Pt. II.
Zeitlin, I. M. Ideology and the Development of Sociological Theory, Ch. 15.

7. The Study of Micro-Social Forms: Georg Simmel

*Simmel, G. Georg Simmel on Individuality and Social Forms, ed. D. Levine, Pts. I, III.
*Simmel, G. Conflict and the Web of Group Affiliations.
*Simmel, G. The Sociology of George Simmel.
*Simmel, G. The Web of Group Affiliation.
*Ritzer, Ed. The Blackwell Companion to Major Social Theorists, Ch. 7.
Lichtblau. K. "Simmel, Weber and interpretative sociology."
Kaern, M. et al eds. Georg Simmel and Contemporary Sociology.
Levine, D. "Simmel's Influence on American Sociology."
Marx, G. "Simmel on Secrecy. A Legacy and Inheritance for the Sociology of Information"
Frisby, D. "Social space, the city and the metropolis."
Coser, L.A. Masters of Sociological Thought, pp. 177-216.
Rock, P. "Simmel and Forms," pp. 36-48 in P. Rock, The Making of Symbolic Interactionism.
Levine, D.N. "Introduction," pp. IX-LXV, in Georg Simmel on Individuality and Social Forms.
Turner, J. H. and L. Beeghely, The Emergence of Sociological Theory, Chs. 12-14.

8. The Struggle Against Exclusion: W. E. B. Du Bois, Harriet Martineau, Charlotte Perkins-Gilman

*Du Bois, W. E. B., The Philadelphia Negro.
*Du Bois, W. E. B. The Souls of Black Folk.
*Gilman, P. C. The Yellow Wallpaper and Other Writings.
*Martineau, H. How to Observe: Morals and Manners.
*Ritzer, Ed. The Blackwell Companion to Major Social Theorists, Chs. 2, 8, 10.
*Warren, N. "His Deep and Abiding Love: W.E.B. Du Bois, Gender Politics, and Black Studies."
*Young, M. "An Intimate Dialog Between Race and Gender at Women's Suffrage Centennial."
Morris, A. "Du Bois, Scientific Sociology, and Race"
Bobo, L. "Bringing Du Bois Back into American Sociology and the Morris Enunciation."
Morris, A. ed. The Scholar Denied: W. E. B. du Bois and the Birth of Modern Sociology.
Tuttle, J. and C. Kessler. Charlotte Perkins Gilman: New Texts, New Contexts.
Knight, D. "Charlotte Perkins Gilman and the Shadow of Racism."
Misheva. V. "Jane Addams and the Lost Paradigm of Sociology."
Arbuckle. E. S. ed., Harriet Martineau's Letters to Fanny Wedgwood.
David. D. Intellectual Woman and the Victorian Patriarchy.
Gilman, P. C. The Living of Charlotte Perkins Gilman. An Autobiography.

9. The Crisis of Liberalism and Early American Sociology: George Herbert Mead

*Mead, G. H. Mind, Self and Society.
*Mead, G. H. "The Genesis of the Self and Social Control."
*Mead, G. H. "Cooley's Contribution to American Social Thought."
*Cooley, C. H. Human Nature and the Social Order, Chs. 1, 5, 6.
*Ritzer, G. ed. The Blackwell Companion to Major Social Theorists, Ch. 9.
*Shalin, D. "G. H. Mead, Socialism, and the Progressive Agenda."
*Shalin, D. "Pragmatism and Social Interactionism."
Mead, G. H. The Individual and the Social Self: Unpublished Work of George Herbert Mead.
Mead, G. H. Movements of Thought in the Nineteenth Century.
Mead, G. H. The Philosophy of the Present.
Strauss, A. ed. George Herbert Mead on Social Psychology.
Joas, H. G. H. Mead: A Contemporary Re-examination of his Thought.
Deegan, M. and J. Burger. "George Herbert Mead And Social Reform: His Work And Writings."
Veblen, J. Theory of the Leisure Class, Chs. 1-4.
Sumner, W. G. Folksways, Ch. 1.
Coser, L.A. "American Trends," pp. 287-320 in T. Bottomore, R. Nisbet, eds. A History of Sociological Analysis.
Ward, L. F. The Sociology of Lester F. Ward, ed. C. Wood, Chs. 2-4.
Giddings, F. H. The Principles of Sociology, Chs. 1-3.
Small A. and G. E. Vincent. An Introduction to the Study of Society.
Martindale, D. The Nature and Growth of Sociological Theory, pp. 85-7, 291-99, 183-190.

10. Conclusion: Classical Sociological Theory in Contemporary Perspective

*Abrutyn A. "Teaching Sociological Theory for a New Century: Contending with the Time Crunch."
*Isaksson. A. "Classical Sociology Through the Lens of Gendered Experiences."
*Giddens, A. "Classical Social Theory and the Origins of Modern Sociology."
*Parsons, T. "Revisiting the Classics throughout a Long Career," pp. 183-94 in B. Rhea, ed. The Future of the Sociological Classics.
*Coser, L. A. "The Uses of Classical Sociological Theory," pp. 170-94 in B. Rhea, ed. The Future of the Sociological Classics.
Shaskolsky, L. "The development of Sociological Theory in America: A Sociology of Knowledge Interpretation," pp. 6-30 in L. T. Reynolds and J. M. Reynolds, eds. The Sociology of Sociology.
Shalin, D. N. "The Genesis of Social Interactionism and Differentiation of Macro- and Micro-sociological Paradigms."
ASA, Publication Venues for Theorists.

How to Survive Comprehensive Exams in Sociological Theory

APPENDIX: UNLV POLICIES

Disability Resource Center (DRC) – The Disability Resource Center (DRC) determines accommodations that are “reasonable” in promoting the equal access of a student reporting a disability to the general UNLV learning experience. In so doing, the DRC also balances instructor and departmental interests in maintaining curricular standards so as to best achieve a fair evaluation standard amongst students being assisted. In order for the DRC to be effective it must be considered in the dialog between the faculty and the student who is requesting accommodations. For this reason faculty should only provide students course adjustment after having received an “Academic Accommodation Plan.” UNLV complies with the provisions set forth in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The DRC is located in the Student Services Complex (SSC-A), Room 143, phone (702) 895-0866, fax (702) 895-0651. For additional information, please visit: http://drc.unlv.edu/.

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Incomplete Grades - The grade of I – Incomplete – can be granted when a student has satisfactorily completed all course work up to the withdrawal date of that semester/session but for reason(s) beyond the student’s control, and acceptable to the instructor, cannot complete the last part of the course, and the instructor believes that the student can finish the course without repeating it. A student who receives an I is responsible for making up whatever work was lacking at the end of the semester. If course requirements are not completed within the time indicated, a grade of F will be recorded and the GPA will be adjusted accordingly. Students who are fulfilling an Incomplete do not register for the course but make individual arrangements with the instructor who assigned the I grade.

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