Classical Sociology

Dustin Jones at that get in were many societal theorists from the flowing of the late seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. This close of snip is regarded as the period of the Enlightenment. A some of the major figures of this token spark offment were Rene Descartes, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Immanuel Kant. They altered the bureau in which the social world was viewed and dish outed coat the bearing for other unmixed social theorists to explain the psyches role in companionship.Karl Marx, Alexis de Tocqueville, Henri De Saint-Simon, and Emile Durkheim be only the names of a few chaste social theorists who set out to explore the role of an individual indoors society. These men believed that Reason, along with the application of a scientific approach, would be qualified to positively multifariousness the world and break through to a new form of power and authority. Although the ideas and theories of these men give stand out to cold greater advancement in sociolog ical scheme, thither is a ill fortune in intuition, and thus, a mishap of the Greco-Roman sociological element.The first scratch of this paper includes an explanation of unsullied sociology along with an overview of the theories associated with some of the greatest sociologists of this time. The coterminous section of this paper explores reasons and explanations for the failure of classical social theory and interpretations to why before-mentioned theories were compromised. The final section of this paper summarizes some of the conclusions drawn approximately the failure of this particular proposition ideology. I. Classical Sociology/Theories Explained Classical sociology includes the idea that people can change the racecourse of history through educational progress.The object of study was society itself. The development of modern, industrial, and capitalist societies was believed to have sepa ordaind people from the traditional way of living. The explanations and theorie s derived from them were a way to correlate the new society with the twist, organization, and dynamics derived from the social world. One form of classical sociological theory attempts to establish a causal relationship for institutions term a nonher form of sociological theory argues that the causal explanation for these institutions is not justifiable. The approach is not pertinent, but what is ertinent is classical sociology explains the interaction of individuals in society, and paves the way for advancement to an explanation of the contemporary world. On page 2 in Classical Sociological guess A Reader, Ian McIntosh states The more optimistic Enlightenment thinkers supposition that Reason could guide a process of positive change in the world and individuals could influence the course of history in the name of Progress. Such Progress could, it was hoped, rid the individual from the yoke and shackles of traditional forms of power and authority- embodied by worship and the my riad ties of feudal obligation. Karl Marx was one of these great social thinkers who explains society in terms of social class and the material of the worker. He felt in that location was great conflict a midst the capitalists and the functional(a) class. The term capitalist is similar with the bourgeoisie these were the people who controlled the land, the eventories, and sought the most interest in someonealized gain. He believed that the value of anything is basically the amount of labor which it takes to produce it. In this way, he felt that profit can only be make by any surplus after the amount of labor it takes to feed, clothe, and treasure a man is produced.From this theory, he believed in the exploitation of labor. He believed that with the rise of industrialization, profits would actually happen upon beca expenditure each industry is trying to wield up with the next guy the cost manufacturers make for machinery goes up while what is being produced drops. Karl Ma rx also gives a fairly detailed description of the fall of capitalist economy. He believed that the downfall of capitalism was inevitable. Over time, the decline in the rate of profit would be one of the factors contributing to the downfall of capitalism.The idea is that the amentaceous tools apply for industrialization atomic number 18 badly utilized when workers ar dismissed and goods produced are no longer meeting effective demands. Capitalism begins to move toward a huge industrial monopoly (Collins, Makowsky, p. 37). This affects the smaller capitalists who are troopsd to unification the proletariat. The unemployment keeps high competition for jobs while those who are looking for change aim more and more agitated. He believed that the economy would reach a designate where the only obstacle standing in the way is a uprising within the work class and the initialization of socialism.Alexis de Tocqueville, also known as the Last Gentleman, also believed in the working c lass as a great supporter for the economy, and found frequently inspiration for the establishment of body politic after his visit to the join States. He was a great pessimist of his time and did not much believe in progress, which is exactly what other sociologists were aiming for in their research. He was one of the first foreigners to recognize the the Statesn project for a better life sentence freedom. He saw the coming of state as more than just a social or economic development he thought that God had his hand in giving democracy to the people.One of the first things that stood out to Alexis de Tocqueville upon his arrival to the United States is the display of equality. One use in this display of equality which he noticed is that the relationship in the midst of the employer and the employee was strikingly variant. In France, where Tocqueville is from, this type of relationship could be compared to a master and his servant but in the United States, he notices that the employee is actually on a lower floor contract to share labor. He also noticed that in that location was a lack of the simulated bonds of property which he had been so accustomed to natural covering home.In the United States, personal relationships were strengthened by bonds of personal affection. This is due to the fact that family members were no longer trying to control one another for the pastime of keeping any sort of wealth and ownership within the family. masses were allowed to make their own decisions and were free to fall in love with whomever they choose. On page 109, in his Democracy in America, Alexis de Tocqueville states Here and there, in the midst of American society, you meet with men, full of fanatical and almost wild enthusiasm, which scarcely exists in Europe. Emile Durkheim was someone who might say that hatred in America is the glue with which people are held together. This is represented in his belief that crime succored to bring a society closer toget her. Meetings were held in which people would forgather to discuss the culpable activity of the community, thus enhancing the relationships within society. When a person is punished for his crime, then the recognition of that punishment is a reaffirmation of the police force and helps to strengthen the bond of society.He also explains that criminal behavior can help to establish new ideas within a society and in turn, help that society to develop (Marsh, Gaynor, p. 97). Durkheim also came to the realization that all religions have sacrosanct objects and that these sacred objects are a creation of society. If people pursue a high moral character by living up to the codes organize by these religions, this will reflect individualism as well as enhance social unity. II. Failure of Sociological Theories One of the major objections to Karl Marxs ideology is the criticism brought forth to his labor theory of value.According to John R. Pottenger, in The Political surmisal of Liberatio n Theology Toward a Reconvergence of fond determine and Social Science, he believes that within the labor theory of value, assumptions based on values must be purged in order to create an object glass perspective of social science, but since valued are not able to be purged, as he states, then this particular theory is informal to speculation. Once mankind developed an industry strong enough which ask the use of machines and tools to produce profit, Marx did not make any distinction betwixt the idea of capital and labor.The use of machines was actually operated by the labor force and was not meant to replace the labor force, but they helped in establishing more wealth. another(prenominal) problem with which Karl Marx did not discern was his idea that the labor force would use the power of politics to overthrow capitalism and strengthen political gain. The working class actually uses the power of politics to cultivate and modify capitalism in a way which is better suited for so ciety. With the improvement of technology, there came an increment in employment opportunities, thus creating more jobs and strengthening the working class as a whole.This only helped to solidify the establishment of a capitalistic society. One of the biggest problems with Marxs ideology which supports the failure of classical sociological theory is he underestimated the role that he and his ideas play in do history. Through the observation of Marxs ideology, it is where society finds that supply and demand makes much more sense and that democracy is the basis for a well-rounded economy. Alexis de Tocqueville is a great supporter for this democracy, but some of his ideas somewhat equality were flawed.He used the word democracy as if it were synonymous with equality. In this way, he felt that there was much more equality in the United States than there in truth was. He did not understand the social classes which were introduced to him in the United States and believed that the mi ddle class were the poor people. This gave him the perception that equality was more wide-spread than it really was. This correlates to the idea that no matter how deeply democracy is rooted within a society, it is not able to help all of those in need.One of the biggest setbacks to Emile Durkheims theory for criminal activity is that crime creates constant tension between members of a society. Criminal activity is known to tear families apart, create havoc, and in some instances, is a focal point for the deterioration of a particular society. Also, an increase in crime rate can bring an increase of frightened civilians who live in that society. Although criminal activity is a design part of society, as Durkheim would say it is, it does not undermine the fact that it brings about a kind of pain and suffering, a lower quality of life if you will.III. Conclusions The most prominent factor in establishing the paradoxical failure of classical sociological theory is the rise in informat ion technology which has brought about a better global economy. (Haferkamp, p. 218) There has been an increase in the sacramental manduction of information along with a way to actually restructure the capitalist society. Also, the social theories that have been attributed to this period of Enlightenment were substantiated by societal norms of a period of time that was considered to be modern.What is considered to be modern times has drastically changed between now and then, and as such, theories pertinent to that day and time are no longer relevant. Industry is booming, technology is far more advanced, criminal activity is on the rise, and what is considered to be societal norms is much different. Also, the application of these sociological theories to what was considered to be societal norms does not include any use of an experimental method for testing hypotheses. With an experimental method for conducting research, researchers are able to talk through ones hat one variable whi le comparing its effect to a different constant variable.The problem with non-experimental methods for conducting research, as is the case for classical sociological theories, is that the hypotheses are difficult to prove, and if or when they are proven, it normally requires a long period of time. In correlation to this idea, the fact that these are theories suggests to the reader that they have not yet been proven, and with the lack of scientific experiential data, may never be proven. Another significant factor contributing to the failure of classical sociological theory is the success in social change in the nineteenth and 20th centuries.According to Melvyn Dubofsky, in The State and labour party in Modern America, he states that reformers and working-class leaders stressed collective action, more individualistic forms of thought dominated national culture, institutions, and legal doctrines. He goes on to describe the way in which workers began to unite and form collective rev olutions for the advancement of class, race, or gender. This swag in social reform has strengthened individualism and accentuated the positive effects of capitalism where people have continued to attribute failure to classical sociological theories. IV. SummaryClassical sociological theory helped to explain social change and structure of society which aided in the establishment of the contemporary world. Karl Marxs portent of the fall of capitalism failed to see its day due to the fact that the working class has used the structure of capitalism to better establish their place among society. When reflecting upon the ideas and works of Alexis de Tocqueville, it is understood that no matter how deeply ingrained capitalism might be within a particular society, there are those who do not reap the benefits capitalism attempts to offer for all people.One of the doctrine notions which stand out after reviewing some of the works by these classical sociologists is that their personal objec tives and theories failed to be achieved. Capitalism has continued to flourish, the industrial revolution has muster up to an end, and a new era of technological advancement has dawned. Bibliography Collins, Randall, & Makowsky, Michael. (2005). The Discovery of Society. saucily York, NY McGraw-Hill. Dasilva, Fabio B. , & Pressler, Charles A. (1996). 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