Modern Social Theory

Recommended Prerequisites

NA

Teaching Methods

  The texts present in the syllabus match the themes covered in lectures. The theoretical classes will focus on the context and the main concepts and ideas of the work under discussion in that week. In the practical classes, students will invigorate the discussion in class or working group. The intention is to promote the interdisciplinary exchange of ideas and the building of stronger academic arguments. 

Learning Outcomes

  The aim of the course is to convey to the student the modern theories.

It will focus on its emergence, of key concepts, new conceptualization of society and individuals, past and present as well as methodological questions central for social sciences and in doing so instigate critical thinking. It includes the reading of various works of classic authors of the of the nineteenth and twentieth - Karl Marx, Émile  Durkheim, Marx Weber –whose influence persists in contemporary anthropological analysis.

By the end of the year students should be able to characterize the main currents of each author, articulate on the intimate relation between the social-economic and political transformations taking place from the end of the 18^th to the early 20^th century and the emerging social theories, establish fundamental differences between these, and identify conceptual or methodological innovations for social sciences.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

MST starts with a look and characterization at the factors (social, economic and political) underpinning the genesis of modern scientific paradigm between the XVII-XIX centuries. Attention will focus the main sociological works of the "fathers" of modern scientific thought (Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim and Max Weber).

These works are still today enlighten debates and contemporary socio-cultural conceptual development, and are thus central to understanding where many anthropological analytical paradigms (i.e. functionalism, structural functionalism, (neo) marxist analysis) drink for ‘inspiration’.

For students the grasping of some of works of the main "fathers" (Marx, Durkheim and Weber) of modern scientific thought allows a better understanding of the different societal conceptualizations underpinning, methodological instruments these designed,  and the weight that each grant to factors, such as class or religion, to characterize the society via meta-paradigmatic of harmony or conflict.

Head Lecturer(s)

Jorge Filipe Sousa Varanda Preces Ferreira

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Frequency: 100.0%

Bibliography

  DURKHEIM, E, (1893) 1977. Da Divisão do Trabalho Social. Ed. Presença.

DURKEHIM, E. (1897) 1982 . O Suicídio, Lisboa: Ed. Presença.

DURKHEIM, E (1895) 1974 - Regras do Método Sociológico, Ed. Presença..

DURKHEIM, E, (1912), 2002, As formas elementares da vida religiosa, Celta Editora,.

GIDDENS, A, 1976. Capitalismo e moderna teoria social: uma análise das obras de Marx, Durkheim e Max Weber; Ed. Presença.

GIDDENS, A. 1995, As consequências da modernidade. Oeiras : Celta Editora.

HOBSBAWM, Eric. 2012, A era das revoluções: 1789-1848, Lisboa, Presença.

HOBSBAWM, Eric. 2002, A era dos extremos : história breve do século XX : 1914-1991. Ed. Presença.

MARX, 1844- Teses sobre Feuerbach

MARX- 1884- Manuscritos Económicos e Filosóficos

WEBER, Max- 1983 A ética protestante e o espírito do capitalismo, Ed. Presença.

WEBER, Max1978- Economy and society : an outline of interpretative sociology  (ed. Guenther Roth and Claus Wittich, Berkeley: University of California Press, 1978, vol 1, and vol. 2.