Classical Sociological Thought and Modernity

Recommended Prerequisites

English language knowledge.

Teaching Methods

The lectures are organized to promote a deep interaction teacher student, encouraging student active involvement in learning.  In expositive classes a theoretical discussion of the main concepts and notions in classical sociological thought is presented by the teacher, while in other classes students are requested to debate around specific texts chosen from the bibliography. 

Learning Outcomes

Classical Sociological Thought aim is to enable students to apprehend and critically evaluate the main theoretical and methodological currents of sociological thought, situating them in the context of modernity and its transformations throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. Students should be able to establish the differences between various currents of sociological thought, showing which paradigmatic traditions they entailed (structural functionalist or Marxist; positivist or phenomenological; holistic or individualist; consensus or conflict), which visions of society and concepts they presented and which tools or methodologies they proposed to advance sociological research. They are expected as well to situate Classical Sociological Thought within the socio-historical context of its elaboration.        

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Classical Sociological Thought aim is to enable students to apprehend and critically evaluate the main theoretical and methodological currents of sociological thought. Students must establish the differences between these currents (structural functionalist or Marxist; positivist or phenomenological; holistic or individualist; consensus or conflict), which visions of society and concepts they presented and which tools or methodologies they proposed to sociological research. The relation of classical sociological thought with recent sociological research thematic is also discussed, illustrated with social and scientific present day issues.

1) The contributions of founding authors: Montesquieu, Saint-Simon, Auguste Comte

2) Sociology "classics"and analytical tradition of sociological thougt: Marx, Durkheim and Weber.

3) Articulation between sociological theory and social and political change in 19th and 20th centuries.

4)Critical evaluation of the different authors and paradigms treated.

Head Lecturer(s)

António Manuel Carvalho Casimiro Ferreira

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Frequency: 100.0%

Bibliography

ARON, Raymond - As etapas do pensamento sociológico. 9ª ed.. Lisboa : Publicações Dom Quixote, 2007. [Ed. de 1991: BP 316.2 ARO]

CUIN, Charles-Henry ;  GRESLE, François - História da sociologia. Lisboa : Publicações Dom Quixote, 1995. [Ed. de 1944: BP 316.2 CUI]

DURKHEIM, Émile - As regras do método sociológico. 7ª ed.. Lisboa : Editorial Presença, 1998. [BP 303 DUR ]

GIDDENS, Anthony - Capitalismo e moderna teoria social : uma análise das obras de Marx, Durkheim e Max Weber. 4ª ed.. Lisboa : Editorial Presença, 1994. [BP 316.2 GID]

RITZER, George - Sociological theory. 6th ed.. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2004. [BP 316.2 RIT]

SILVA, Augusto Santos - Entre a razão e o sentido : Durkheim, Weber e a teoria das Ciências sociais. 2ª ed.. Porto : Edições Afrontamento, 1994. [BP 316.2 SIL]

WAGNER, Peter – A Sociology of Modernity: Liberty and Discipline. London : Routledge, 1994.