Ten Questions A Sociological Perspective

This book employs a unique approach to introducing and examining sociological principles by posing and answering in each chapter a question such as What does it mean to be human?; Are human beings free?; and Why is there misery in the world? The book examines the philosophies of classical sociologists such as Marx, Weber, Durkheim, Mead, and Berger and looks at how the field of sociology has approached these questions over the past 150 years.

Preface

ix

Introduction

1

(6)

How Do Sociologists Study Society?

7

(22)

Researching the Social World

The Beginnings of Rational Proof

7

(2)

Proof, Science, and Sociology

9

(10)

Two Assumptions of Science

19

(3)

Sociology: Understanding the Puzzle of Society

22

(1)

Summary and Conclusion

23

(2)

How Do Sociologists Study Society?

25

(1)

References

25

(4)

What Does It Mean to Be Human?

29

(18)

Human Nature, Society, and Culture

Human Beings Are Social Beings

31

(9)

Human Beings Are Cultural Beings

40

(2)

The Importance of It All

42

(1)

Summary and Conclusion

43

(1)

What Does It Mean to Be Human?

44

(1)

References

44

(3)

How Is Society Possible?

47

(56)

The Basis for Social Order

Societies and Nations: Social Organization vs. Political Organization

48

(3)

Society Is Possible Through Social Interaction

51

(4)

Society Depends on Social Patterns

55

(8)

Society Is Made Possible Through Feelings of Loyalty

63

(3)

Conflict and Change Help Preserve Society

66

(1)

Summary and Conclusion

67

(1)

How Is Society Possible?

68

(1)

References

69

(4)

Why Are People Unequal in Society?

The Origin and Perpetuation of Social Inequality

73

(30)

Introduction

73

(2)

Why Does Inequality Emerge in the First Place?

75

(12)

Why Does Inequality Continue?

87

(9)

Summary and Conclusion

96

(1)

Why Are People Unequal in Society?

97

(1)

References

97

(6)

Why Do We Believe What We Do?

103

(22)

The Creation of Social Reality

The Utility of Knowledge

104

(1)

The Social Construction of Reality

105

(6)

Social Structure and Reality

111

(5)

The Changing Nature of the Individual's Reality

116

(2)

The Importance of Our Past

118

(1)

Do Individuals Form Their Own Ideas?

119

(1)

Summary and Conclusion

120

(1)

Why Do We Believe What We Do?

121

(1)

References

121

(4)

Are Human Beings Free?

125

(28)

The Possibility for Freedom in Society

The Meaning of Freedom and Responsibility

126

(1)

Freedom as a Value in American Culture

127

(1)

The Sociological View: The Power of Society

128

(4)

Freedom: Thought and Action

132

(1)

Society and the Control of Thought

133

(3)

Summary: Freedom and Thinking

136

(1)

Society and the Control of Action

137

(8)

Social Forces and the Individual: A Summary

145

(1)

Is There Any Freedom?

145

(4)

Summary and Conclusion

149

(1)

Are Human Beings Free?

149

(1)

References

149

(4)

Why Can't Everyone Be Just Like Us?

153

(22)

The Dilemma of Ethnocentrism

The Meaning of Values

154

(1)

Values and Making Value Judgments

155

(3)

Meaning of Ethnocentrism

158

(1)

The Reasons for Ethnocentrism

159

(7)

Human Differences

166

(4)

Summary and Conclusion

170

(2)

Why Can't Everyone Be Just Like Us?

172

(1)

References

172

(3)

Why Is There Misery in the World?

175

(34)

Society as an Important Source of Human Problems

The First Cause of Misery: Social Inequality

180

(9)

The Second Cause of Misery: Destructive Social Conflict

189

(4)

The Third Cause of Misery: Socialization

193

(3)

The Fourth Cause of Misery: Alienation

196

(4)

Summary and Conclusion

200

(2)

Why Is There Misery in the World?

202

(1)

References

203

(6)

Does the Individual Really Make a Difference?

209

(26)

An Introduction to Social Change

The Individual's Influence on His or Her Own Life

210

(1)

The Individual's Influence on Other Individuals

211

(4)

The Individual Versus Social Organization

215

(6)

Social Change: A Sociological View

221

(8)

Some Implications for Living

229

(1)

Summary and Conclusion

230

(1)

Does the Individual Really Make a Difference?

231

(1)

References

231

(4)

Is Sociology Important?

235

(12)

The Necessity for a Critical Understanding of Society

Sociology and a Liberal Arts Education

235

(1)

Sociology and Democracy

236

(7)

Summary and Conclusion

243

(1)

Is Sociology Important?

244

(1)

References

245

(2)

Afterword

247

(20)

Should We Generalize About People?

Categories and Generalizations

248

(5)

The Stereotype

253

(3)

Social Science: A Reaction to Stereotypes

256

(6)

Summary and Conclusion

262

(2)

Should We Generalize About People?

264

(1)

References

265

(2)

Glossary

267

(16)

Index

283

What is included with this book?

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

FREE SHIPPING

Amazon no longer offers textbook rentals. We do!

Ten Questions A Sociological Perspective

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials