Sociological Theory - Functionalism

Origins of Sociology

• came about during period of great social change - late 18th century
• created modernity - new stage of sociological development
• broke traditional ways of life
• Marx, Durkheim and Weber believed reason and science could not be applied and modernity could be understood through sociological theory
• modernity --> global transformation; argued that the sociological theories cannot be applied today as the society they were designed for, arguably, no longer exists - not designed for current society

Consensus and Conflict

• Durkheim's concept of social facts established sociology as a distinct subject
• explains how an individual's action is shaped by the wider society
• his main concern was with how society hangs together through shared valyes - collective conscience

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