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2667:3 [2015/03/16 00:49] – [Durkheim, continued] Ryan Schram (admin)2667:3 [2021/06/29 02:27] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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 Mills 169 (A26) Mills 169 (A26)
  
-March 19, 2015+March 16, 2016
  
 Available at http://anthro.rschram.org/2667/3 Available at http://anthro.rschram.org/2667/3
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 ## Durkheim, continued ## ## Durkheim, continued ##
  
-In his book, *The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life* (1915), Durkheim states that religion is society worshipping itself. To understand what this means, we need to understand Durkheim's argument that the social fact of the category of the sacred is functionally connected to and reinforces mechanical solidarity through collective rituals. +In his book, *The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life* (1915), Durkheim states that religion is society worshipping itself((While this catchy phrase is often attributed to Durkheim, as far as I know, it is not a quotation from *Elementary Forms*. However in the conclusion and at several points in the book he does equate society and the sacred in this way, and he says in the conclusion, "If religion has given birth to all that is essential in society, it is because the idea of society is the soul of religion" (1915: 419). In other words, it is not the empirical group which is the object of veneration, but through venerating sacred things, people come into contact with the essence of belonging to a group, and being part of a social whole.)). To understand what this means, we need to understand Durkheim's argument that the social fact of the category of the sacred is functionally connected to and reinforces mechanical solidarity through collective rituals. 
  
 ## Some key terms of Durkheim ## ## Some key terms of Durkheim ##
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 * Patterns of society, institutions, rules, and norms, in other words, social facts, exist because they **function** as part of a total system. It does not necessarily matter what people believe the purpose or reason for a social fact is. It stays in place because it reinforces other patterns, and the society as a whole. Many social facts exist because they reinforce mechanical or organic solidarity.  * Patterns of society, institutions, rules, and norms, in other words, social facts, exist because they **function** as part of a total system. It does not necessarily matter what people believe the purpose or reason for a social fact is. It stays in place because it reinforces other patterns, and the society as a whole. Many social facts exist because they reinforce mechanical or organic solidarity. 
 * **Sacred and profane**: All societies must have at least one social fact, the distinction between sacred and profane. Sacred things are things set aside and forbidden. Profane things are normal, everyday things with no special meaning or importance.  * **Sacred and profane**: All societies must have at least one social fact, the distinction between sacred and profane. Sacred things are things set aside and forbidden. Profane things are normal, everyday things with no special meaning or importance. 
 +
 +## Durkheim and relativism ##
 +
 +Is Durkheim saying that the sacred is whatever people in a society say is sacred? 
  
 ## Why must a society worship itself? ## ## Why must a society worship itself? ##
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 * In an experiment, people who refused recycled water would accept it when they were told a story that included the idea that recycled water would sit underground for one year before entering the water system.  * In an experiment, people who refused recycled water would accept it when they were told a story that included the idea that recycled water would sit underground for one year before entering the water system. 
 * Even in spite of the facts, people only could understand the process of recycling water through symbols.  * Even in spite of the facts, people only could understand the process of recycling water through symbols. 
-* Symbols guide how people think and act. [[:Emile Durkheim]] and [[:Max Weber]] each offer explanations for why. +* Symbols guide how people think and act. [[:Emile Durkheim]] and [[:Max Weber]] each offer explanations for why. 
 + 
 + 
 +## Different kinds of social actions ##  
 + 
 +* Waiting for the train. Standing on the platform.  
 +* Offering your seat to a pregnant woman. 
 +* Buying a coffee for a friend. 
 +* Sending a get-well card. 
 +* Sending a text to Mom and Dad. 
 +* Signing a petition. 
 +* Donating money to [[https://www.unicef.org.nz/vanuatu|cyclone relief for Vanuatu]]. 
 +* Buying ramen. 
  
 ## Max Weber and the action perspective on society ## ## Max Weber and the action perspective on society ##
  
 * In order for society to exist, individuals must act, and patterns of action must develop.  * In order for society to exist, individuals must act, and patterns of action must develop. 
-* Sociology should look at the basis for people's actions and choices, or what specific forms of action mean to a person, and give them a motivation to act.  +* Sociology should look at the basis for people's actions and choices, or what specific forms of action mean to a person, and give them a motivation to act. 
-* In another sense, Weber looks at society from the ground up, and asks how individuals fit into social systems. +   * There are four main types of action: traditional, affective, value-rational, and instrumentally rational. 
 + 
 +* In another sense, Weber looks at society from the ground up, and asks how individuals fit into social systems.
 * Weber: "methodological individualism"; Durkheim: "methodological holism". * Weber: "methodological individualism"; Durkheim: "methodological holism".
  
2667/3.1426492154.txt.gz · Last modified: 2015/03/16 00:49 by Ryan Schram (admin)