THEMES OF LECTURES

Week 1. Introduction to Sociology: problems and perspectives.

Sociology offers a distinct and highly illuminating perspective on human behavior. Learning sociology means taking a step back from our own personal interpretations of the world, to look at the social influences which shape our life. Sociology as a social science. Object, subject and tasks of Sociology. Methodological basis of Sociology and its links with other social sciences (anthropology, history, political science, economy, philosophy, psychology). Sociological approach. Sociology and a ‘commons sense’. Sociological questions (comparative, developmental, theoretical questions). Developing a sociological outlook. Practical significance of sociology: understanding social situations, awareness of cultural differences, assessment of the effects of policies; the increase of self-knowledge (self-enlightenment), the sociologists’ role in society).

Reading materials:

Giddens, Anthony. Sociology. Second edition. Polity: 2001. Chapter #1, P. 7-25

Week 2. Culture and Society.

Concept of culture: culture consists of values held by a given group, the norms they follow and the material goods they create. Theory of evolution. Sociobiology. Cultural diversity. Cultural identity and ethnocentrism. Cultural universals: language, semiotics and material culture. Types of pre-modern society (hunters and gatherers, the pigmies, the original ‘affluent societies’; pastoral and agrarian societies; pastoral societies, agrarian societies. Non-industrial civilization or traditional states; feature of the traditional state. Societies in the modern world: the industrialized societies; the third world societies.

Reading materials:

Giddens, Anthony. Sociology. Second edition. Polity: 2001. Chapter #2, P. 29-58.