CORE COURSE Course Title: Course Code: Course Co-ordinator: E-mail: Class Times:

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Introduction to Social Theory for Researchers ESH5014 tbc tbc Semester 2, 10 weeks Tuesdays - 5:30 to 7:45pm Lectures - 5:30-6:30 Adam Smith Building Room 916 Tutorials - 6:45-7:45 pm - Adam Smith Building Rooms 706, 712 & 904 By appointment

Course aims The course aims to introduce students to the main debates and issues in the theory of social science. The course will be structured historically and its emphasis will be on the foundations of empirical research. It will, for instance, examine the philosophical foundations of the social sciences, explore the nature of scientific knowledge and the differences between the social and the natural sciences, and introduce students to the central concerns of social theory in late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. Learning Outcomes By the end of the course, students should be able to: provide a critical account of the development of social theory. examine the debates regarding the scientific nature of social research. reflect on the social nature of scientific research. compare individualistic and holistic methodologies in social research. discuss approaches to the characterisation of cultures and societies display familiarity with key concepts, such as class, ideology, contingency, and social interest. show an understanding of key terms, such as postmodernism and poststructuralism Assessment The sole assessment (100% of the total assessment) will be in the form of a 4000 word essay to be submitted by Thursday 18 April 2013. Essay topics There is no set essay question or questions. The course organisers are concerned that the assessment for ITSTFR should have added value for the students' research rather than distract from it. We hope, therefore, that each student will devise an essay topic which applies one or more of the themes of the course to the subject matter of their prospective thesis or dissertation, or which relates to their research interests in some other way. Do this in consultation with your tutor. The course convenors will attend the final tutorial of the course (which is a review session) and provide further guidelines verbally and answer any questions that you may have at that stage. Marking of Assignments First marking of the essays is done by the tutors. The essays are second marked by one of the staff involved in the course. Essays are then sent to the external examiner, who ratifies (or occasionally adjusts) the internal marks. Course Summary The course will begin with a historical scrutiny of the founding figures of social science. Then, by following the development of distinctive programmes of social research throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, we will explore key theoretical and methodological questions. The emphasis of the course will be empirical in two senses. First, there will be a strong stress on the foundational issues underlying practical empirical research in the social sciences. Second, the teaching of the course will be based firmly upon the close study of original texts. The course will examine the status of the natural sciences as an

exemplar of high-status knowledge in our society but the distinction that is traditionally made between a sociology based upon the scientific method and one based on empathetic understanding will be questioned. We will also address the issue of Why study the social sciences? Reading Key books for consultation: The following list is not meant to be exhaustive. However these texts will provide a reasonable introduction to, and overview of, the philosophy of the social sciences. More specific reading will be provided for each lecture. Barnes, B., Bloor, D. and Henry, J., Scientific knowledge: a sociological analysis, London: Athlone, 1996 Barnes, B., About Science, Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1985 Barnes, B., T.S. Kuhn and Social Science, London: Macmillan, 1982 Benton, T and Craib, I., Philosophy of Social Science: the philosophical foundations of social thought, Basingstoke: Palgrave, 2001 Bloor, D., Wittgenstein: a social theory of knowledge, London: Macmillan, 1983. Bloor, D., Wittgenstein: Rules and Institutions, London: Routledge 1997 Fay, B. Contemporary Philosophy of Social Science: a multicultural approach, Oxford: Blackwell, 1996. Hollis, M. The Philosophy of Social Science: an introduction, Cambridge: Cambridge U.P., 1994. Martin, M. and McIntyre L.C. (eds) Readings in the Philosophy of Social Science, London and Massachusetts: MIT Press, 1994. Knorr Cetina, K., Epistemic Cultures: how the sciences make knowledge, Cambridge: Mass, Harvard University Press, 1999 Rosenberg, A., Philosophy of Social Science, 2nd ed., Oxford: Westview Press, 1995. Williams, M and May, T., Introduction to the Philosophy of Social Research, London: UCL Press, 1996. Winch, P., The Idea of a Social science and its relation to philosophy, London: Routledge, 1990

Course Tutors The tutorials are run by three course tutors. The tutors will be happy to address any concerns related to the intellectual content of the course during the tutorial. Please note that the tutors have heavy demands on their time outside the tutorial classes and responding to student emails is not part of their job description. As such, you are advised to seek guidance during the weekly tutorial sessions if at all possible. If you cannot raise your issues or questions during the tutorial sessions please contact the course convenor on the email detailed above. Course Outline Please note that the following outline is provisional and subject to change. A final version will be published towards the end of 2012. LECTURES 08 January 2013 1) Introduction to the Course (Professor Chris Thornhill) The lecture will address the constitutive theoretical dimensions of the social sciences, the designation of objects of inquiry for social sciences, and the foundations of the conception of 'the social'. Background reading Rosenberg, A., Philosophy of Social Science, 2nd ed., Oxford: Westview Press, 1995, chapter one. 15 January 2013 2) The Social Theory of Karl Marx (Dr Matt Dawson)

Few thinkers can claim to have had the impact on history akin to that of Karl Marx (1818-1883). Whilst we can debate how close many forms of Marxism were to Marxs own ideas, their impact throughout the th 20 Century would, on their own, guarantee Marxs inclusion on any course on social theory. In this lecture however, I will return to the source and outline how Marxs social theory is a convincing and radical discussion of social change and power; a truly relevant and useful theory to the current day, rather than a museum piece. To do this I will highlight how factors such as the capitalist economy; class; ideology; globalisation; human agency and revolution came together in Marxs explanation of how we got where we are, the problems with where we are, and how these will be overcome in the future. Marxs unique development of a theory which is both historical and materialist (i.e. based within the historically dependent conditions in which we generate our material existence) is, as we shall see, his greatest gift to contemporary social theory. Specific reading: Marx, K. And Engels, F. The Communist Manifesto Marx, K. Preface to the Contribution to a Critique of Political Economy Marx, K. The Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts of 1844 These are listed in order of relevance, with the Manifesto being the best text available. The Manifesto, and The Manuscripts have all been published on their own in multiple editions. They can be also be found in many collections of Marxs writings, the best of which are: McLellan, D. (ed.) (2000) Karl Marx: Selected Writings Oxford: Oxford University Press Colletti, L. (ed.) (1975) Karl Marx: Early Writings London: Penguin Elster, J. (ed.) (1986) Karl Marx: A Reader Cambridge: Cambridge University Press Also see www.marxists.org, which has online copies of almost everything Marx and Engels ever wrote Background Reading Fromm, E. (1961/2004) Marx's Conception of Man London: Continuum (a very short, but very precise, discussion of how Marx theorised the individual under capitalism) Avineri, S. (1968) The Social and Political Thought of Karl Marx Cambridge: Cambridge University Press (good overview of Marxs theory) For Reference: Commentaries on Marx Avineri, S. (1968) The Social and Political Thought of Karl Marx Cambridge: Cambridge University Press (good overview of Marxs theory) Berlin, I. (1948) Karl Marx: His Life and Environment Oxford: Oxford University Press (written by a liberal theorist, this has a greater emphasis on the environment in which Marx was writing) Bottomore, T. (ed.) (1981) Modern Interpretations of Marx Oxford: Blackwell (as the title gives away, a focus on how Marx has been interpreted) nd Callinicos, A. (1996) The Revolutionary Ideas of Karl Marx (2 Ed.) London: Bookmarks (Trotskyite theorist of the Socialist Worker Party gives his reading of Marx.) Cohen, G. (1978) Karl Marxs Theory of History Oxford: Clarendon (good introduction to how Marx theorised history) Elster, J. (1985) Making Sense of Marx / Elster, J. (1986) An Introduction to Karl Marx Cambridge: Cambridge University Press (as you can probably guess, the introduction is more accessible than the making sense of text) Levin, M. (1989) Marx, Engels and Liberal Democracy Basingstoke: Macmillan (a discussion of Marxs sympathetic yet critical discussion of liberal democracy) McBride, W. (1977) The Philosophy of Marx London: Hutchinson (a bit more of an advanced, philosophical, discussion) McLellan, D. (1986) Marx London: Fontana (very introductory level discussion of Marx. This is quite brief, but the main themes are discussed) Parkin, F. (1979) Marxism and Class Theory: A Bourgeois Critique London: Tavistock (a critique of Marxs views on class from a Weberian perspective) Plamenatz, J. (1975) Karl Marx's Philosophy of Man Oxford: Clarendon Press (an expanded discussion of how Marx theorised individuals to that found in Fromm)

Wheen, F. (1999) Karl Marx London: Fourth Estate (a biography of Marx, well worth a read!) 22 January 2013 3) Emil Durkheim (Dr Matt Dawson) Perhaps the founding father of sociology and the academic study of social science, Emile Durkheim is credited with the first articulation of the key ideas, social reality and anomie. He is also famous for his pioneering work on the sociology of religion and for his more empirical work on suicide and crime. This lecture however will focus on the very basis of his social thought, most notably his focus on the Division of Labour and the role of morality, expressed as individualism, in developing forms of solidarism. These ideas draw upon Durkheims central theoretical and methodological concern of determining how human activity is regulated through forms of morality which exist outside the individual as social facts. We shall see how Durkheims concern with understanding society as the study of social facts impacted his understanding of phenomena as diverse as suicide and socialism. Specific reading Durkheim, E. (1984) The Division of Labour in Society Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan (Book I, chapters 2 and 3) Durkheim, E. What is a Social Fact?, chapter in Durkheim, E. (1982) The Rules of Sociological Method Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan Background reading Lukes, S. (1973) Emile Durkheim: his life and work: a historical and critical study Harmsworth: Penguin (masterly intellectual biography; chapters 7, 10 and 21 would be especially useful for this week) Stedman Jones, S. (2001) Durkheim Reconsidered Cambridge: Polity Press (recent text which tries to present a more faithful, and more radical, picture of Durkheims work) For Reference Durkheim, E. (1959) Socialism and Saint-Simon London: Routledge (an application of the concept of social fact to socialism) Durkheim, E. (1992) Professional Ethics and Civic Morals London: Routledge (Durkheims political sociology, covering questions of the state, contracts, inequality and class with suggestions of changes which should be made) Durkheim, E. The Elementary Forms of Religious Life any edition (what some claim is Durkheims masterpiece) Commentaries on Durkheim Bottomore, T. (1981) A Marxist Consideration of Durkheim Social Forces, 59(4): 902-917 Cladis, M. (1992) A Communitarian Defense of Liberalism: Emile Durkheim and Contemporary Social Theory Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press (somewhat philosophical defence of Durkheim as a liberal) Fenton, S. (1984) Durkheim and Modern Sociology Cambridge: Cambridge University Press (good discussion of the place of Durkheim within contemporary thought) Giddens, A. (1978) Durkheim Glasgow: Fontana (somewhat simplistic, but a good overview of Durkheim from one of his best commentators) Mestrovic, S. (1991) The Coming Fin Sicle: An Application of Durkheims Sociology to Modernity and Postmodernism London: Routledge (a positive application of Durkheim to times of postmodernity) Nisbet, R. (1965) Emile Durkheim NJ: Prentice Hall (somewhat dated, but still a strong reading of Durkheim) Pearce, F. (1989) The Radical Durkheim London: Unwin Hyman (a mostly Marxist reading of Durkheim) Pickering, W. (1984) Durkheims Sociology of Religion London: Routledge (prime summary of Durkheims views on religion) Thompson, K. (2002) Emile Durkheim London: Routledge (a good introduction to Durkheim) Turner, S. (1993) (ed.) Emile Durkheim: Sociologist and Moralist London: Routledge (extracts assess Durkheims concern with morality) Wolff, K. (1960) (ed.) Emile Durkheim, 1858-1917 Columbus: Ohio State University Press (an earlier, more conservative, reading of Durkheims legacy to sociology)

29 January 2013 4) Max Weber (Thornhill) Max Weber is regarded as the other great founder of academic social science. In his work we confront the difference between the subject matter of the natural and the social sciences. Webers initial theoretical focus was on the subjective meanings that humans bring to bear on social interaction. Does the putative centrality of meaning entail that the study of social phenomena must be approached in a manner fundamentally distinct from that successfully employed in the study of natural phenomena? Do values enter into social science in a different way or to a different degree from that of the natural sciences? We will also explore the issues raised by the centrality of a historical understanding in Webers methodology and how this differs from a Marxist perspective. Specific reading T. Abel, The operation called Verstehen in E.H. Madden, The Structure of Scientific Thought, London: Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1968, 158-166. Background reading H.H. Gerth and C. Wright Mills, From Max Weber: essays in sociology, London: Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1991 05 February 2013 5) The Frankfurt School: Modernity, Terror and Emancipation (Thornhill) This lecture will examine the theories of modernity put forward by Jurgen Habermas and his colleagues in the Frankfurt School. Specific reading Excerpts from William Outhwaite, The Habermas Reader, London: Polity Press, 1996, to be announced Background reading: Martin Jay, The Dialectical Imagination, London: Heinemann Educational, 1973. 12 February 2013 6) The Challenge of an Anthropological Perspective (Dr Nicole Bourque) The comparative study of different human societies has always been a central component of the methodology of the social sciences. The difficulties encountered when members of one culture try to understand those of another throw into relief many of the methodological problems of the social sciences. We will explore two of the debates to which the anthropological perspective has contributed. Part 1: How does a scientific perspective make sense of others beliefs? Is Azande belief in witchcraft less rational than scientists belief in science? Part 2: We examine anthropological studies which support the argument that Western science has been based on an empirically inaccurate dualistic understanding of the world. What are the implications of such studies? Specific Reading Part 1: Azande Thought and Science: Robin Horton African Traditional Thought and Western Science and Peter Winch Understanding a primitive society, in Bryan R.Wilson (ed.) (1974) Rationality. Oxford: Basil Blackwell Part 2: The Dualism of Western Science: Tim Ingold (2000) Hunting and gathering as ways of perceiving the environment, in The Perception of the Environment London: Routledge 19 February 2013 7) Social Constructionism and the Sociology of Scientific Knowledge (SSK) (Nicolson) Whereas earlier authors, such as Merton, had argued that the social context could either encourage or hinder the development of science, later commentators argued that the technical content of scientific knowledge was itself amenable to social explanation. The pioneering text, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, by Thomas Kuhn is central here. Barry Barnes and David Bloor, among others, articulated

an impressive empirical and theoretical programme of SSK. The lecture will also examine how far approaches derived from the sociology of scientific knowledge can be applied to the understanding of other social phenomena such as religion or power. Specific reading B.Barnes The sociologist and the concept of rationality in B. Barnes Scientific Knowledge and Sociological Theory, London: Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1974, Chapter 2. Background reading T.S. Kuhn, The function of dogma in scientific research, in A.C. Crombie (ed) Scientific Change, London: Heinemann, 1963, pp. 347-369. T.S. Kuhn, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, 3rd ed., Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1996. (Earlier editions may also be used.) Barnes, B., T.S. Kuhn and Social Science, London: Macmillan, 1982 26 February 2013 8) Niklas Luhmann: Modernity and Functional Autonomy (Thornhill) Once widely dismissed as a conservative antipode to the neo-Marxist approaches of the Frankfurt School, Luhmanns theory of society is now appreciated as one of the defining accounts of social modernity. Proceeding from a resolutely anti-anthropological analysis of societal construction, Luhmann proposes a multi-paradigmatic perspective for examining the highly contingent sources of meaning and validity in modern differentiated societies. This lecture, while addressing the key general principles of systemic differentiation, positivization, contingency, and communicative self-reference in Luhmanns work, places particular focus on the functions of politics and law in his description of modern society. Specific reading Niklas Luhmann, Law as a Social System, IX Background reading Michael King and Chris Thornhill, Niklas Luhmanns Theory of Politics and Law (2003) Andreas Philippopoulos-Mihalopoulos, Niklas Luhmann: Law, Justice, Society (2009) Hans-Georg Moeller, Luhmann Explained (2006) Chris Thornhill, Luhmanns Political Theory: Politics after Metaphysics? in Michael King and Chris Thornhill (eds.) Luhmann on Law and Politics. Critical Appraisals and Applications, pp. 75-100 (2006) Jean Clam, What is modern power?, in Michael King and Chris Thornhill (eds.), Luhmann on Law and Politics, pp. 145-162 (2006) Gert Verschraegen, Human Rights and Modern Society. A Sociological Analysis from the Perspective of Systems Theory, in: Journal of Law and Society, 29/2: 258-281 (2002) Michael King, The Construction and the Demolition of the Luhmann Heresy, in: Law and Critique, 12(1) (2001) 5 March 2013 9) Modern, postmodern or amodern Humanist or posthumanist (Nicolson) Early SSK was based upon a theory of social interests, which was ultimately derived from Marx, via Karl Mannhiem. Later authors, notably Latour and Pickering, have argued that explanations solely based on the theory of interests are teleological. To some extent, this debate hinges on the tension between the Anglophone analytical tradition in social theorising, on the one hand, and the Continental tradition, on the other. This controversy will be examined in an attempt to shed light on the nature of explanation in the social sciences. Specific reading Latour, B. One more turn after the social turn, in E. McMullin (ed) The Social Dimension in Science, Notre Dame, Indiana: University of Notre Dame Press, 1992, pages 272-294. This book is not in the GUL but is available (reference only) in the library of the Centre for the History of Medicine. Background reading:

Bruno Latour, We have never been modern, Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press, 1993. Callon, Michel, Society in the making: the study of technology as a tool for sociological analysis, in Wiebe E. Bijker, Thomas P. Hughes, and Trevor J. Pinch (eds) The social construction of technological systems: new directions in the sociology and history of technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts; London: The MIT Press, c1989, 1987. And the other essays in this book. Haraway, Donna, J., Simians, Cyborgs and Women: the reinvention of nature, London: Free Association, 1991. Pickering, A., The Mangle of Practice: Time, Agency, and Science, University of Chicago Press, 1995. 12 March 2013 10) Foucault, Post-structuralism and Postmodernism (Dr Matthew Waites) Michel Foucault is widely regarded as the most important social theorist associated with poststructuralism, which emerged in the aftermath of structuralism from the 1960s. In debates over philosophy of social science and epistemology, Foucaults work - originating in France - was received by Anglo-American academia as associated with the postmodernism of Jean-Francois Lyotard (author of The Postmodern Condition), and others; however Foucault does not advance a postmodernist social analysis. This lecture will introduce and outline structuralism as a prelude to introducing post-structuralism and postmodernism, with particular reference to the work of Michel Foucault. Themes in the work of Foucault to be discussed will include: the relationship between power and knowledge and concepts including the subject, discourse and governmentality. Specific Reading Michel Foucault Afterword: The Subject and Power, in H.L. Dreyfus and P.Rabinow (1982) Michel Foucault: Beyond Structuralism and Hermeneutics (Hertfordshire: the Harvester Press); pp.208-226. Ted Benton and Ian Craib, Poststructuralism and Post-modernism, Chapter 10 in T.Benton and I. Craib (2001) Philosophy of Social Science (Houndmills, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan); pp.160172. Background Reading: Structuralism: Ian Craib (1992) The World as a Logical Pattern: An Introduction to Structuralism, Chapter 8 in Ian Craib (1992) Modern Social Theory, second edition (Harvester Wheatsheaf); pp.131-148. Post-Structuralism: Samantha Ashenden Structuralism and Post-structuralism, Chapter 9 in Austin Harrington (ed.)(2005) Modern Social Theory: An Introduction (Oxford: Oxford University Press), pp.196-214. Derek Layder Foucault and the Postmodern Turn, Chapter 6, in Derek Layder (2006) Understanding Social Theory, second edition (London: Sage), pp.115-138. Barry Smart (2002) Michel Foucault, second edition (London: Routledge). Michel Foucault Nietzsche, Genealogy, History in Donald F. Bouchard (ed.)(1977) Language, Counter-Memory, Practice: Selected Essays and Interviews/Michel Foucault (Ithaca: Cornell University Press); pp. 139-164. Michel Foucault (1972) The Archaeology of Knowledge (London: Tavistock Publications); see especially Part 1: Introduction. Paul Rabinow (ed.)(1986) The Foucault Reader (Harmondsworth: Penguin). Colin Gordon (ed.)(1980) Michel Foucault: Power/Knowledge Selected Interviews and Other Writings 1972-1977 (New York: Harvester Wheatsheaf). See Chapter 5 Two Lectures and Chapter 6 Truth and Power. Steven Seidman (2004) Contested Knowledge: Social Theory Today, third edition (Malden Massachussetts: Blackwell); Chapter on The French Post-structuralists. George Ritzer and Douglas J. Goodman Structuralism, Post-structuralism and the Emergence of Postmodern Social Theory, Chapter 17, in George Ritzer and Douglas J. Goodman (2003) Sociological Theory, sixth edition (Boston: McGraw Hill), pp.579-616. Postmodernism:

Jean-Francois Lyotard (1984) The Postmodern Condition: A Report on Knowledge (Manchester: Manchester University Press); see especially Introduction. Steven Connor (1989) Postmodernist Culture: An Introduction to Theories of the Contemporary. (Oxford: Blackwell). Chapter 2 Postmodernities. (especially section on Lyotard). pp.27-64. Barry Smart Modernity and Postmodernity: Part 1, Chapter 12 in Austin Harrington (ed.)(2005) Modern Social Theory: An Introduction (Oxford: Oxford University Press). pp.252-272. Michael Drolet (ed.) (2003) The Postmodernism Reader (London Routledge). See especially extracts from Foucault and Lyotard. Madan Sarup (1993) An Introductory Guide to Post-structuralism and Postmodernism, second edition (Hemel Hempstead: Harvester Wheatsheaf); Chapters on Foucault and Lyotard.

TUTORIALS Note: There is no tutorial scheduled for week 1 15 January - Tutorial 1 Marx: Contradictions of Capitalism and Revolution Social change is at the heart of Marxs theory and its application to the research he conducted. A concern with identifying the contradictions of capitalism which will eventually bring it crashing down is perhaps his greatest accomplishment. Whilst many may not agree with the end goal Marxs views on the problems of capitalism have won him praise across the political spectrum. But, can we really consider Marx without considering the role of revolution? If we cannot, then how convincing is Marxs explanation of social revolution? Reading: A Preface to a Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy Further Reading: Fromm, E. (1961/2004) Marx's Conception of Man London: Continuum nd Callinicos, A. (1996) The Revolutionary Ideas of Karl Marx (2 Ed.) London: Bookmarks -22 January - Tutorial 2 Durkheim: The Division of Labour and Abnormal Forms Whilst Durkheim is often considered to be the theorist of stability and conservativism, a major part of his theoretical concern was with identifying ways in which we could, methodologically, locate and explain problems or, as he put it, abnormal forms. Indeed perhaps his most famous concept, anomie, was an indication of this. Also, perhaps his most famous book, Suicide, was a study of what went wrong. How useful is it as researchers to adopt this approach ourselves? Does it involve too much prescription concerning both the definition and location of social facts? Or, was Durkheim able to achieve his dream of treating social facts scientifically? This can be assessed by returning to his work on Suicide and Durkheims suggestions for how to cut it. Reading Suicide - Book II chapter 5 on 'anomic suicide'. (and particularly, pages 201-220 from the Routledge 2002 edition). Further Reading: Giddens, A. (1978) Durkheim Glasgow: Fontana. Chapter 2, Sociological Method and its Application to Suicide Stedman Jones, S. (2001) Durkheim Reconsidered Cambridge: Polity Press (chapter 2 on Durkheim as theorist of science and order and chapter 8 on the question of suicide) -29 January - Tutorial 3 Weber In his methodological writings, notably in The meaning of Ethical Neutrality in Sociology and Economics and in Objectivity in Social Science and Social Policy, Weber insisted upon the principle of value freedom (this is a more accurate translation of Wertfreiheit than ethical neutrality) in the social sciences. In part, this is because Weber requires this principle in order to study values and value systems themselves (think of his study of world religions) in the social world. Value judgments are to play no role in the social sciences. Weber is also renowned for his attempts at a historical analysis of the development of whole social formations, including new types of social action appropriate to modern societies (notably purposiverational action). Here, Weber makes use of ideal type concepts of social reality. Can the principle of value freedom be defended? Does it alone secure the objectivity of social scientific knowledge?

At the same time, are developments in concept formation (such as that of the ideal type) the driving force in the development of social scientific knowledge? Reading Max Weber, The Methodology of the Social Sciences, New York: Free Press 1949, which contains The meaning of ethical neutrality (pp.1-47) and Objectivity in Social Science (pp. 50-112, esp. pp.85-112) -05 February Tutorial 4 The Challenge of Modernity In what ways did the writers and thinkers associated with the Frankfurt School reinterpret and modernise Marxs ideas? In the process, did they change those ideas fundamentally? Common reading: Theodore Adorno and Max Horkheimer, The culture industry: Enlightenment as mass deception, extract, from Adorno and Horkheimer, Dialectic of Enlightenment (1944) [Available on-line at the following URL: http://www.marxists.org/reference/subject/philosophy/works/ge/adorno.htm Tom Bottomore, The Frankfurt School, Chichester, Ellis Horwood Limited, 1984; London, Routledge, 1995, pp. 11-14. Herbert Marcuse, The Negation of Philosophy, extract, from Marcuse, Reason and Revolution, Part 2: The Rise of Social Theory (1941) [Available on-line at the following URL: http://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/marcuse/works/reason/ch02-1.htm Selected additional reading: Andrew Arato and Eike Gebhardte, The Essential Frankfurt School Reader, New York, Continuum, 1982. Bottomore, The Frankfurt School, remainder of book. Stephen Eric Bronner and Douglas MacKay Kellner, eds., Critical Theory and Society: A Reader, London, Routledge, 1989. Martin Jay, The Dialectical Imagination, London, Heinemann Educational, 1973. William Outhwaite, The Habermas Reader, London, Polity Press, 1996, to be announced Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its history, theories, and political significance, Cambridge, Polity Press, 1994 -12 February - Tutorial 5 The Challenge of an Anthropological Perspective. Part One: In Witchcraft, Oracles and Magic among the Azande (1937), Evans-Pritchard explored the problem of understanding other people whose ideas and practices seemed nonsensical. He wrote as an educated European of his period trying to explain the thought of an African people to his fellows at home. In the passages highlighted he focuses on oracles. These are the means of finding out about hidden events and misfortunes, actual and potential, including those identified as produced by witches. He brings to bear on the use of oracles an empirical, testing spirit scientific and finds that this does not undermine Zande faith in their practices. This is not because they have different and less rational modes of thought; it is because their practices are consistent and their thinking intellectually coherent but necessarily conducted within their entire structure of belief which involves mystical notions. Evans-Pritchard concludes that they are immersed in a sea of mystical notions. Where experience might challenge faith there are what he calls secondary elaborations of the beliefs and these in practice shield them. Part Two: However, is Western science conducted within an entire structure of belief which also precludes any fundamental challenge to its basic premise? In Science for the West, myth for the rest? Colin Scott argues that both Western science and Cree science rely on drawing deductive inferences from first premises and both verify these inferences deliberately and systematically in relation to experience. He argues that: (i) it has been an effect of Western ethnocentrism to construe non-Western knowledge systems as less rational than its own; and (ii) what distinguishes Western science from Cree science is the formers ethnocentric dualism. Scott, Ingold and Milton all argue that the irrational assertion by

Western science of a fundamental culture/ nature, body/ mind, human/ environment split has profoundly impeded our understanding of the nature of knowledge, experience, and of science itself. Reading: Part One. (Core reading) Evans-Pritchard (1976) Witchcraft, Oracles and Magic. Oxford: OUP: Most versions in the library are abridged by Eva Gillies. In it the recommended sections, abbreviated, are Appendix I and Chapter IX, sections I, II and V. Peter Winch Understanding a primitive society, and Robin Horton African Traditional Thought and Western Science in Bryan R.Wilson (ed.) (1964) Rationality. Oxford: Basil Blackwell. Part Two. Colin Scott (1996) Science for the West, Myth for the Rest? The case of James Bay Cree knowledge construction in L. Nader (ed) Naked science: anthropological inquiry into boundaries, power and knowledge. London: Routledge Tim Ingold (2000) Hunting and Gathering as Ways of Perceiving the Environment, in The Perception of the Environment London: Routledge Kay Milton (2002) Knowing Nature through Experience, in Loving Nature: towards an ecology of emotion. London: Routledge Sue Gerhardt (2004) Building a Brain, in Why Love Matters: how affection shapes a babys brain. New York: Brunner-Routledge Tim Ingold (2004) Beyond Biology and Culture: the meaning of evolution in a relational world, in Social Anthropology 12(2) 209-221. Cambridge University Press -19 February - Tutorial 6 - Social constructionism and the sociology of scientific knowledge (SSK). The strong claim of the practitioners of SSK that they have developed a sociological understanding of scientific knowledge has generated severe criticism, from philosophers of science, from scientists and, indeed, for some humanistic sociologists. If SSK is to have any validity, then it should be able not only to refute these arguments, but also to explain why they are made. What is it about science that makes a variety of commentators leap so eager to the defence of its virtue and purity? The tutorial will use the chosen passage from David Bloors Knowledge and Social Imagery to explore the relevance of sociological ideas of the sacred and the profane to the understanding of the role and status of science in our society. Introductory Reading: A short passage from D. Bloor, (1976) Knowledge and Social Imagery Routledge, chapter 3, will be supplied. Detailed Reading. The rest of David Bloors influential book. -26 February Tutorial 7 - Edgar Zilsel and the roots of the scientific method In his classic paper, Zilsel accounts for the rise of the scientific method in terms of a social process, the amalgamation of two groups. He argues that it was when literate scholars began to take a serious interest in the practical activities of superior artisans that the necessary conditions for the rise of science were finally in place in Western Europe. Is this explanation based upon the impact of social change upon technology convincing? Reading E. Zilzel, (1942) The sociological roots of the scientific method, American Journal of Sociology, 47, 54462. -05 March - Tutorial 8 Understanding the role of the expert in society.

Sociology is increasingly becoming a service industry for governmental and quasi-governmental agencies. The impact of policy and health initiatives, for example, is frequently studied using the methods of social inquiry. But what does sociology have to say about the role of its own expertise in the public service? The tutorial has no set question (although one can be set, should a student wish to take this topic for his/her essay). You are rather encouraged to discuss with your tutors the issues raised by Barry Barnes (and Jurgen Habermas) in the section from Barness About Science that is provided. Detailing Reading B. Barnes (1985) About Science Blackwell. (A copy of a short section from this book will be provided.) -12 March Tutorial 9 - Survey of the course. The aim of this tutorial is to survey the course and for the tutors to provide guidance and advice on the preparation of your essays. There is no set reading.