Classical Sociology

Dustin J one and only(a)s at that place were m any an(prenominal) societal theorists from the tip of the late seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. This period of time is regarded as the period of the Enlightenment. A few of the major figures of this finical movement were Rene Descartes, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Immanuel Kant. They altered the instruction in which the favorable macrocosm was viewed and helped coat the focal point for other clean hearty theorists to explain the individuals usage in society.Karl Marx, Alexis de Tocqueville, Henri De Saint-Simon, and Emile Durkheim be to a greater extent(prenominal)over the name of a few clanical social theorists who set out to explore the aim of an individual deep down society. These men desired that Reason, on with the drill of a scientific approach, would be able to positively transpose the beingness and break through to a im liable(p)born do of power and authority. Although the mentations and theories of these men destine line up to distant biger promotional material in sociological hypothesis, there is a ill fortune in intuition, and thus, a misfortune of the undefiled sociological element.The first portion of this paper includes an explanation of lineical sociology along with an overview of the theories associated with just slightly of the peachyest sociologists of this time. The next contribution 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 partitioning of this paper summarizes about of the conclusions drawn around the failure of this particular political theory. I. autho summond Sociology/Theories Explained Classical sociology includes the idea that wad can change over the course of history through victimizational progress.The object of study was society itself. The development of modern, industrial, and capitalistic societies w as believed to subscribe sepa computed the great unwashed from the tralatitious way of aliveness. The explanations and theories derived from them were a way to correlate the new society with the structure, organization, and dynamics derived from the social world. One form of classical sociological theory attempts to establish a causative relationship for institutions while other form of sociological theory argues that the causal explanation for these institutions is non simplyifiable. The approach is non pertinent, but what is ertinent is classical sociology explains the int agection of individuals in society, and paves the way for advancement to an explanation of the coetaneous world. On page 2 in Classical sociological Theory A Reader, Ian McIntosh states The more optimistic Enlightenment thinkers conceit that Reason could guide a functioning of positive change in the world and individuals could influence the course of history in the name of board. Such Progress could, it was hoped, free the individual from the yoke and shackles of traditional forms of power and authority- embodied by organized religion and the myriad ties of feudal obligation. Karl Marx was one of these large(p) social thinkers who explains society in ground of social class and the material of the worker. He felt there was great meshing amidst the capitalists and the on the job(p) class. The term capitalist is synonymous with the bourgeoisie these were the people who controlled the land, the factories, and desire the most interest in private gain. He believed that the value of anything is basically the step of ride which it takes to produce it. In this way, he felt that profit can only be made by any surplus after the amount of labor movement it takes to feed, clothe, and shelter a man is produced.From this theory, he believed in the exploitation of labor. He believed that with the rise of industrialization, profits would genuinely fall because distributively industr y is nerve-wracking to keep up with the next guy the cost manufacturers gravel for machinery goes up while what is being produced drops. Karl Marx too gives a fairly detailed comment of the fall of capitalist economy. He believed that the downfall of capitalist economy was inevitable. Over time, the decline in the rate of profit would be one of the factors change to the downfall of capitalism.The idea is that the productive tools utilise for industrialization argon badly apply when workers argon unemployed and goods produced atomic number 18 no longer meeting effective use ups. capitalism begins to move toward a huge industrial monopoly (Collins, Makowsky, p. 37). This affects the smaller capitalists who are propeld to critical point the proletariat. The unemployment keeps utmost competition for jobs while those who are looking for change become more and more agitated. He believed that the economy would occur a point where the only hindrance bandstanding in the way is a revolt within the workings class and the initialization of socialism.Alexis de Tocqueville, alike cognise as the Last Gentleman, excessively believed in the working class as a great supporter for the economy, and found overmuch intensity for the establishment of state after his chew the fat to the unify distinguishs. He was a great pessimist of his time and did non much believe in progress, which is exactly what other sociologists were aiming for in their research. He was one of the first foreigners to issue the American project for a interrupt life freedom. He saw the glide slope of land as more than just a social or sparing development he thought that deity had his hand in giving nation to the people.One of the first things that stood out to Alexis de Tocqueville upon his arrival to the get together States is the dis fly the coop of equality. One example in this display of equality which he discover is that the relationship amidst the employer and the empl oyee was strikingly different. 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 nonices that the employee is actually nether contract to share labor. He also noniced that there was a wishing of the simulated bonds of property which he had been so accustomed to back home.In the United States, soulfulnessalized relationships were modulateed by bonds of personal affection. This is receivable to the fact that family members were no longer trying to control one another for the saki of keeping any sort of wealthiness and ownership within the family. People were allowed to wanton 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, abundant of fanatical and almost wild enthusiasm, which scarce exists in Europe. Emile Durkheim was someone who might pronounce that crime in America is the gum with which people are held together. This is represented in his belief that crime helped to summate a society closer together. Meetings were held in which people would congregate to discuss the criminal legal action 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 law and helps to strengthen the bond of society.He also explains that criminal way 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 pious objects and that these sacred objects are a understructure of society. If people pursue a high moral character by living up to the codes formed by these religions, this leave alone reflect individualism as strong as enhance social unity. II. ruin of Sociological The ories One of the major objections to Karl Marxs ideology is the criticism brought forth to his labor theory of value.According to tin R. Pottenger, in The semipolitical Theory of Liberation godliness Toward a Reconvergence of well-disposed Values and Social Science, he believes that within the labor theory of value, assumptions found on values must be purged in order to create an purpose perspective of social science, but since value are not able to be purged, as he states, then this particular theory is open to speculation. Once human developed an industry strong abounding which required the use of machines and tools to produce profit, Marx did not make any distinction between 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 enigma with which Karl Marx did not discern was his idea that the labor force would use the power of political relation to overturn capitalism and strengthen political gain. The working class actually uses the power of politics to cultivate and modify capitalism in a way which is ruin desirable for society. With the improvement of technology, there came an increase in employment opportunities, thus creating more jobs and modify 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 shaping history. Through the bill 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 about equality were flawed.He used the banter democracy as if it were synonymous with equality. In this way, he felt that there w as much more equality in the United States than there really was. He did not understand the social classes which were introduced to him in the United States and believed that the middle class were the poor people. This gave him the perceptual experience 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 exertion 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 constipation 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 recipe part of society, as Durkheim would say it is, it does not undermine the fact that it brings about a kind of pa in and suffering, a rase quality of life if you will.III. Conclusions The most big(a) factor in establishing the paradoxical failure of classical sociological theory is the rise in information technology which has brought about a better global economy. (Haferkamp, p. 218) There has been an increase in the sharing of information along with a way to actually restructure the capitalist society. Also, the social theories that have been arrogated 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 data-based rule for testing hypotheses. With an experimental method for conducting research, researchers are able to manipulate one variable while comparing its effectuate 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 provided been proven, and with the lack of scientific experiential data, may never be proven. Another world-shaking 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 comminute in Modern America, he states that reformers and project leaders stressed collective action, more individualistic fo rms of thought dominated subject area culture, institutions, and legal doctrines. He goes on to sop up the way in which workers began to unite and form collective varietys for the advancement of class, race, or gender. This poke 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 foretelling 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 work of Alexis de Tocqueville, it is still that no matter how deeply innate capitalism might be within a particular society, there are those who do not reap the benefits capitalism attemp ts to offer for all people.One of the principle notions which stand out after reviewing some of the works by these classical sociologists is that their personal objectives and theories failed to be achieved. Capitalism has continued to flourish, the industrial revolution has come to an end, and a new era of technological advancement has dawned. Bibliography Collins, Randall, & Makowsky, Michael. (2005). The Discovery of Society. pertly York, NY McGraw- mound. Dasilva, Fabio B. , & Pressler, Charles A. (1996). Sociology and Interpretation From Weber to Habermas.Albany, NY stark naked York State University of modernistic York Press. Dubofsky, Melvyn. (1994). The State and Labor in Modern America. North Carolina Chapel Hill University of North Carolina Press. Haferkamp, Hans. (1992). Social Change and Modernity. atomic number 20 Berkeley University of California Press. Marsh, Ian, & Melville, Gaynor. (2006). Theories of Crime. New York Taylor and Francis Routledge. McIntosh, Ian. ( 1997). Classical Sociological Theory A Reader. Edinburgh, United dry land Edinburgh University Press. Nielsen, Donald A. (1999).Three Faces of God Society, Religion, and the Categories of Totality in the philosophy of Emile Durkheim. New York Albany State University of New York Press. Pines, Christopher L. (1993). Ideology and False Consciousness Marx and His historic Progenitors. Albany, NY New York State University of New York Press. Pottenger, John R. (1989). 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