Studying Part and Whole: How Sociologists View Social Structures

An Introduction to Sociology SOCI 1306 Studying Part and Whole: How Sociologists View Social Structures The notion that society and the person are inextricably linked is a fundamental aspect of the sociological worldview. One cannot learn the other without the other. German sociologist Norbert Elias named this method of examining how society influences an individual's behaviour at the same time as that behaviour itself "figuration." Think about religion. Although each person's experience of religion is unique, religion is a social institution that exists in a broader societal context. For example, a person's religious practice could be impacted by government regulations, festivals, educators, houses of worship, customs, and so on. These factors highlight the crucial connection between a person's personal religious practices and the societal forces influencing those behaviours (Elias, 1978). Figuring, to put it simply, is the idea that while analysing a society's social structures, anybody who uses them in any way has to be "figured" into the research. People have been captivated by the dynamics between individuals and society for thousands of years. Theories of social conflict, economics, social cohesiveness, and power are just a few of the subjects that modern sociologists continue to explore in their quest to define the perfect society, a goal shared by ancient thinkers (Hannoum, 2003). Eastern thinkers also considered societal concerns, even though we are better familiar with western philosophers like Plato and his pupil Aristotle. Very few nonreligious works that theorise on social life have been found up until recently. The Catholic Church ruled from what is now eastern Turkey to western and northern Europe, including the British Isles, from the fourth to the nineteenth centuries. The only educated people were the nobility and monks, who were tasked with manually rewriting sacred texts. In addition, the Church centralised authority. Pope Leo III established Charlemagne as the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire in the year 800, granting him personal rule over the majority of Europe. Francia is today's France, Belgium, Netherlands, and Germany. By doing this, the Catholic Church gained the authority to uphold its own customs and protect them from the influence of followers of other faiths. The Church's beliefs were challenged by certain social patterns, and people who practiced them were either killed, set ablaze, or declared heretics. Because of this, the data we have are highly individualised and do not provide a neutral perspective on social activity. Chinese historian Ma Tuan-Lin was the first to document the social factors underpinning and producing historical progress in the 13th century through his groundbreaking encyclopaedia, General Study of Literary Remains. Ibn Khaldun (1332–1406), a historian from Tunisia, laid the groundwork for contemporary sociology and economics in the fourteenth century. In addition to offering a political economics analysis, a comparison of nomadic and sedentary lifestyles, and a research linking a tribe's ability to wield power and maintain social cohesiveness, Khaldun also put out a theory of social conflict (Hannoum, 2003). Khaldun frequently questioned the authority. Sociologists frequently find themselves in the centre of controversy as they continue to research and write about societal concerns and challenges. Up to 35% of the population perished in Europe between 1347 and 1522 as a result of the bubonic plague (Armstrong, 2019). The Catholic Church's credibility suffered a severe damage as a result of the pandemic. The writings of intellectuals like Copernicus, Galileo, Leonardo, Newton, Linnaeus, and others arose out of this turmoil, sometimes going against what the church taught. Once-accepted accounts of events as the work of the divine hand could be examined via human reason and observation, and their causes might be supported by verifiable, scientific theories. Conquests and colonisation led to the expansion of literacy, which increased the amount of literature and records accessible to sociologists and historians to solve social riddles. Enlightenment philosophers created broad theories in the eighteenth century that helped to explain social interactions. In response to what they perceived as societal evils, intellectuals like John Locke, François-Marie Arouet (Voltaire), Immanuel Kant, and Thomas Hobbes wrote on subjects they believed would result in social transformation. In her writings, Mary Wollstonecraft (1759–1797) discussed the status of women in society. Although the male academic establishment long disregarded Wollstonecraft's writings, as did Harriet Martineau and Jane Addams, her contributions have gained widespread recognition as the pioneering feminist thinker since the 1970s. Among the various issues of social life were ideas concerning economic systems, the family, health and cleanliness, and national offensive and defence. The Industrial Revolution, more mobility, and the emergence of new job types brought about significant changes in the early 19th century. Additionally, a lot of individuals were exposed to communities and cultures different than their own for the first time during this time due to increased commerce, travel, and globalisation. Millions of people relocated to urban areas, while many others abandoned their traditional religious practices. Rapid idea dissemination led to the formation of organisations and the public dissemination of political choices. Some of the younger generation of philosophers thought they understood everything.