ADVERTISEMENTS: Herbert Spencer was the first writer to throw light on the structure of society.
Q. Which theorists are associated with the positivist functionalist tradition?
Herbert Spencer In fact, while Durkheim is widely considered the most important functionalist among positivist theorists, it is known that much of his analysis was culled from reading Spencer’s work, especially his Principles of Sociology (1874–96). In describing society, Spencer alludes to the analogy of a human body.
Table of Contents
- Q. Which theorists are associated with the positivist functionalist tradition?
- Q. Which theorist claimed that any regularity or rule of everyday life in human communities is a social fact?
- Q. How should sociologists approach social facts?
- Q. Is generality a social fact?
- Q. What are the four major characteristics of social fact?
- Q. What did Durkheim mean by social facts?
- Q. Why is a crime a social fact?
- Q. Can we ever have a crime free society?
- Q. Do you think policymakers should address crime as a matter of individual responsibility or is crime truly a symptom of a dysfunctional society?
- Q. Why are families important to society?
Q. Which theorist claimed that any regularity or rule of everyday life in human communities is a social fact?
Emile Durkheim claimed that any regularity or rule of everyday life in human communities is a __________. Unwritten rules of society, such as social norms, are an example of __________.
Q. How should sociologists approach social facts?
Durkheim wrote, “The first and most fundamental rule is: Consider social facts as things.” This implies that sociology must respect and apply a recognized objective, scientific method, bringing it as close as possible to the other exact sciences. This method must at all cost avoid prejudice and subjective judgment.
Q. Is generality a social fact?
Generality. Durkheim adds that social facts cannot be defined merely by their universality. Further social facts exist in their own right. They are independent of individual manifestations.
Q. What are the four major characteristics of social fact?
A social fact, as defined in Rules, is “a category of facts which present very special characteristics: they consist of manners of acting, thinking, and feeling external to the individual, which are invested with a coercive power by virtue of which they exercise control over him.” The overall agenda for Durkheim is to …
Q. What did Durkheim mean by social facts?
Durkheim defined social facts as things external to, and coercive of, the actor. They cannot be deduced from pure reason or thought, but require a study of history and society in order to observe their effects and understand the nature of these social facts.
Q. Why is a crime a social fact?
Crime is just a result of certain structures and institutions of a society, it is a result of different social facts itself. Crime can be an indicator used for the determination of the overall wellbeing of a society.
Q. Can we ever have a crime free society?
No. Not ever. The only way to create a crime-free society would be to eliminate the entire concept of crime itself. A crime is a transgression of law, and laws are created to protect people and their property from other people.
Q. Do you think policymakers should address crime as a matter of individual responsibility or is crime truly a symptom of a dysfunctional society?
A person may have criminal tendencies because of a dysfunctional society that they live in but committing a crime is still a choice that is made the individual. Regardless of society, they should still the difference between right and wrong. Crime must, of course, be addressed as a matter of individual responsibility.
Q. Why are families important to society?
As basic and essential building blocks of societies, families have a crucial role in social development. They bear the primary responsibility for the education and socialization of children as well as instilling values of citizenship and belonging in the society.
