Syllabus - Sociological Theory - Davidson College

September
25, 27
October 2,
4
October 9,
11
Emile Durkheim II:
Social Structure and Social
Solidarity
The Conscience Collective and
The Moral Order
Mechanical and Organic
Solidarity.
The Division of Labor in
Society
Anomie and Egoistic Suicide
Elementary Forms of
Religious Life
Religion, Ritual, and Social
Order
Sacred and Profane
Max Weber I:
Mission, Methods & Subject
Matter
Historical/Interpretive
Epistemology
Rationality and Action
Comparative and Historical
Approach
Protestantism & the Spirit of
Capitalism
Max Weber II:
Class, Status and Power
Religion & Capitalism
Rationalization & Domination
Power and Legitimate
authority.
Bureaucracy
Charisma & Its
Transformations
Durkheim, The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life, pp. 13-33 and
462-496 (introduction and conclusion). (R)
Student Course Reserve Selection.
Book Report (option 1): Elementary Forms of Religious Life.
Book Report (option 2): Suicide.
Recommended:
Schneider, The Theory Primer, “Émile Durkheim on the Division of Labor
and Suicide,” “Émile Durkheim and Functionalism.”
Excerpts from Emile Durkheim, Suicide: A Sociological Study
(http://www.facstaff.bucknell.edu/kendrick/soci211/Readings/Durkhei
m/MainConcepts/EgoisticSuicide.html)
Durkheim, Suicide, Introduction, Book Two, ch. 1-5, Conclusion.
Durkheim, Division of Labor in Society, Preface to the First Edition (pp.
xxv-xxx); Introduction (pp. 1-7); Book I, Chapters 1-2 (pp. 11-64); Chapter
3 (pp. 68-72 and 77-86 only); Chapter 5 (pp. 118-123 only); Chapter 7 (149-
174); Book II, Chapter 2 (pp. 200-223); Chapter 5 (from bottom of p. 286
through p. 287 only); Book III, Chapters 1-2 (pp. 291-322); Conclusion (pp.
329-340); Preface to the Second Edition (pp. liv-lvii only).
Excerpts from Marti, Worshipping Jesus in Hollywood. (R)
Coser, pp. 217-262.
Student Course Reserve Selection.
Book Report (option 1): Selections, From Max Weber, Gerth and Mills .
Book Report (option 2): Methodology of the Social Sciences / Rosher and
Knies: The Logical Problems of Historical Economics.
Book Report (option 3): Selections, Economy and Society.
Recommended:
Giddens, Part 3: Weber, pp. 119-184.
Kenneth Morrison, Marx, Weber, Durkheim: Formations of Modern Social
Thought, Section on Max Weber.
Collins and Makowsky, Ch. 7: Max Weber: The Disenchantment of the
World, pp. 117-139. (R)
Weber, "The Definition of Sociology and of Social Action," and "Types of
Legitimate Domination," Economy and Society, Vol. 1 (Berkeley: Univ. of
California Press, 1978), pp. 4-26 and 212-216.
Weber, "Science as a Vocation" (Gerth and Mills, 129-56; read pp. 137-140,
143-148, and bottom of 150-151 only). (R)
Weber, "Politics as a Vocation" (Gerth and Mills, 77-128) (R)
Weber, “Bureaucracy” (Gerth and Mills, pp. 196-244; read sections 1, 2, 6,
8, 9, 10, and 12 only). (R)
Weber, "The Sociology of Charismatic Authority" (Gerth and Mills, 245-
64). (R)
Student Course Reserve Selection.
Book Report (option 1): The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism.
Book Report (option 2): Selections, Economy and Society.
Recommended:
Schneider, The Theory Primer, “Max Weber and Capitalism,” “Max
Weber and Analytic Typologies.”
Weber, “Class, Status, Party” (Gerth and Mills, pp. 180-194).
Weber, The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, Introduction (pp.
13-31); Chapter 1 (pp. 35-46) Chapters 2-3 (pp. 47-92); Chapter 4 (pp. 95-
128, 153-154 only); Chapter 5 (pp. 155-183).
Excerpts from Marti, A Mosaic of Believers. (R)
Analytic Papers
Set 1.
Begin Looking
through Works
of Several
Theorists.
Analytic Papers
Set 1.
Analytic Papers
Set 1.
Select a Theorist
for Final Paper.
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