Sociological Theories

Recommended Prerequisites

It is recommend to the students a previous knowledge about the main classical authors and paradigms, once several articulations between the classical and the great sociological thought (especially of the XX century) will be emphasized

Teaching Methods

The teaching method is face-to-face and is adjusted to an assessment system that emphasis periodic assessment (see below, point 24/assessment method). Since the teaching profile adopted is theoretical-practical, this makes it possible to combine teaching dynamics with learning dynamics. On the one hand, because each of the 4 topics of the syllabus benefits from a theoretical-conceptual background by the teaching team, which provides students with a picture of the state of the art in those topics. On the other hand, students participate orally and in the form of written contributions.

Learning Outcomes

General objectives
To provide an overview of the main contemporary theoretical traditions, especially those of the post-World War II period.

Specific objectives
- To capture the diversity of theoretical perspectives in contemporary sociology;
- To establish links with classical sociological thought;
- Get to know the main authors and theories of functionalism;
- To become familiar with the main legacies of conflict theorising;
- Distinguish the main forms of ‘micro’ sociology of the 20th century

Generic competences
Identifying and characterising the main sociological theories of the 20th century, highlighting similarities and differences.

Specific competences
Instrumental: cognitive (reading and learning), methodological (combination of methodological tools and forms of assessment), linguistic (oral presentation and written synthesis of programme topics);
Interpersonal: participation (individual and/or group) in teaching sessions is valued.

This course articulates with UN SDG 4.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. The legacy of classical sociological thought: Ideas and concepts 2. The functional theorizing: analytical functionalism (T. Parsons); empirical functionalism (R. Merton); neo-functionalism (N. Luhmann, J. Alexander). 3. Conflict theory: the Marxist heritage: from Frankfurt School Critical Theory to Habermas; the Weberian legacy: the theory of dialectical conflict (R. Dahrendorf) functionalism conflictual (L. Coser) 4. The "creative" sociologies: symbolic interactionism, phenomenological sociology and ethnomethodology: the nature of human interaction (H. Blumer), the genesis of the self (Mead), the dramaturgical metaphor (E. Goffmann), the social construction of reality (P . Berger and T. Luckman); contents of ethnomethodology (H. Harfinkel).

Head Lecturer(s)

Carlos André Brito Correia

Assessment Methods

Continuous Assessment
Written work during classes : 20.0%
Presentations in class : 30.0%
Midterm exam : 50.0%

Final Assessment
Exam: 100.0%

Bibliography

Baert, Patrick; Silva; Silva, Filipe Carreira da (2014), Teoria Social Contemporânea. Lisboa: Editora Mundos Sociais.
Dahrendorf, Ralf (2023), [1959], Class and Conflict in an Industrial Society. London: Routledge.
Garcia, José Luís; Martins, Hermínio Martins (orgs.) (2019), Lições de sociologia clássica. Lisboa: Edições 70.
Dillon, M. (2024). Introduction to sociological theory: Theorists, concepts, and their applicability to the twenty-first century (4th ed.). Hoboken, New Jersey: Blackwell Publishing.
Goffman, Erving (1993), A apresentação do eu na vida de todos os dias. Lisboa : Relógio d’Água.
Parsons, Talcott (1997) [1951], The social system. New ed. London : Routledge.
Ritzer, Goerge; Stepnisky, Jeffrey (2022), Contemporary sociological theory and its classical roots: the basics (6th Edition). London: Sage.
Wallace, R.A; Wolf, A. (2006), Contemporary sociological theory: expanding the classical tradition (6th ed). Upper Saddle River: Pearson/Prentice Hall