WGU Introduction to Sociology - C273

Auguste Conte - Suggested we apply scientific method to social world, which is known as Positivism Viewed society as a living organism, similar to an animals body - must function together to function smoothly. (functional analysis) Herbert Spencer - *Called 2nd founder of sociology *disagreed with Conte, believed sociologists should not guide social reform *societies are evolving from lower to higher form *society's most capable and intelligent members service - the less capable die out *fittest members produce a more advanced society "The survival of the fittest" or "Social Darwinism" (credited to Darwin because he applied it to organisms. Viewed society as a living organism, similar to an animals body - must function together to function smoothly. (functional analysis) Karl Marx - *believed the engine of human history is class conflict *society is made up of 2 classes *economics is a central force in social change *Bourgeoisie - capitalist own the means of production, money, land, factories and machines *Proletariat - workers; *workers will unite and bread their chains of bondage *introduced Conflict Theory *did not think of himself as a sociologist Bourgeoisie - Capitalists they own the means of production - money, land, factories, and machines. Proletariat - Workers Emile Durkheim - *succeeded in getting sociology recognized as a separate academic discipline *how social forces affect peoples behavior *Social Integration when all parts of society full their part it is in a "normal" state, if they do not fulfill their function it is in an "abnormal" or pathological state. (functional analysis) Social Integration - Degree to which people are tied to their social groups. People with weaker social ties are more likely to commit suicide Applying Dur