Contemporary Sociological Theories
Code
711081076
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas
Department
Sociologia
Credits
6
Teacher in charge
Inês Farinha Pereira, João Sedas Nunes
Weekly hours
4
Teaching language
Portuguese
Objectives
a)Knowledge and understanding of the main contemporary sociological theories;
b) Ability to identify theoretical perspectives of contemporary sociology in substantive theoretical propositions;
c) Ability to critically compare the potentials and gaps of different theoretical perspectives;
d) Ability to mobilize adequate theoretical perspectives according to specific problems and empirical objects;
e) Ability to identify and control the incorporation, selection and bias effects of contemporary theoretical perspectives on research objects;
f) Ability to communicate in rigorous and meaningful ways the fundamentals of contemporary sociological theories.
Prerequisites
Students must have completed 48 ECTS credit units.
Subject matter
1. Structuralist and functionalist perspectives
1.1. T. Parsons structural-functionalism and R. K. Merton´s functionalism
1.2. Interdependence and historicity in N. Elias
1.3. Power and social order in M. Foucault
2. Interactionist perspectives
2.1. H. Garfinkels Ethnomethodology
2.2. E. Goffmans frames of experience
2.3. Phenomenological constructivism: A. Schutz, H.S. Becker and P. And T. Berger Luckmann
3. Theoretical synthesis
3.1. The structural-constructivism of Pierre Bourdieu
3.2. The structuration theory of Anthony Giddens
4. Recent developments
4.1. Multiple, plural and reflexive actors: J. Elster, F. Dubet and B. Lahire
4.2. New uses of the notion of critique: from the pragmatic sociology of L. Boltanski and L. Thévenot to the struggle for recognition in A. Honneth
4.3. Debating society and modernity
4.3.1. The risk society of U. Beck
4.3.2. Liquid modernity in Z. Bauman
4.3.3. The singuralist society of D. Martucelli
4.3.4. The relevance of the sociological concept of society: a final debate with A. Elliott and Bryan S. Turner.
Bibliography
Giddens, A. e J. Turner (1987), Social Theory Today, Cambridge, Polity Press.
Elliott, Anthony (2009), Contemporary Social Theory. An Introduction, London & New York, Routledge.
Lahire, B. (2005), L´Esprit Sociologique, Paris, La Découverte.
Mouzelis, N. (1995), Sociological Theory: What went wrong?, London, Routledge.
Turner, Bryan S. (org.) (2002), Teoria Social, Lisboa, Difel.
Teaching method
Theoretical classes (60%); practical classes (40%). Practical classes will be dedicated to the preparation, presentation and group discussion of the students sociological essays; using compared / alternative sociological perspectives; and regarding objects previously selected by the teachers. Practical classes also imply a personalized monitoring of the students work.
Evaluation method
A collective written essay (15 pp.) (30%), and its presentation and discussion (25%);
A written test focusing on the whole theoretical content of the discipline (45%).