Summary Of "Fundamental Problems Of The Sociological Theory" By John Rex: UNIVERSITY SUMMARIES

By MAURICIO ENRIQUE FAU

We have summarized here the essential of this book by the author.

FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEMS OF SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY

CHAPTER 3 THE OBJECT OF STUDY OF SOCIOLOGY

PURE EMPIRISTIC SOCIOLOGY FACES THE FOLLOWING DILEMMA: EITHER IT STUDIES FACTS THAT, ALTHOUGH DEMONSTRABLE AND MEASURABLE, ARE NOT SOCIOLOGICAL OR IT ANALYZES INSTITUTIONS AND RELATIONS THAT ARE NOT DIRECTLY OBSERVABLE

• Language: English
• Publisher: BOOKS AND SUMMARIES BY MAURICIO FAU
• Release date: Aug 22, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201017309

MAURICIO ENRIQUE FAU

Mauricio Enrique Fau nació en Buenos Aires en 1965. Se recibió de Licenciado en Ciencia Política en la Universidad de Buenos Aires. Cursó también Derecho en la UBA y Periodismo en la Universidad de Morón. Realizó estudios en FLACSO Argentina. Docente de la UBA y AUTOR DE MÁS DE 3.000 RESÚMENES de Psicología, Sociología, Ciencia Política, Antropología, Derecho, Historia, Epistemología, Lógica, Filosofía, Economía, Semiología, Educación y demás disciplinas de las Ciencias Sociales. Desde 2005 dirige La Bisagra Editorial, especializada en técnicas de estudio y materiales que facilitan la transición desde la escuela secundaria a la universidad. Por intermedio de La Bisagra publicó 38 libros. Participa en diversas ferias del libro, entre ellas la Feria Internacional del Libro de Buenos Aires y la FIL Guadalajara.

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Summary Of Fundamental Problems Of The Sociological Theory By John Rex

UNIVERSITY SUMMARIES

MAURICIO ENRIQUE FAU

Published by BOOKS AND SUMMARIES BY MAURICIO FAU, 2022.

While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the publisher assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions, or for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein.

SUMMARY OF FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEMS OF THE SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY BY JOHN REX

First edition. August 22, 2022.

Copyright © 2022 MAURICIO ENRIQUE FAU.

Written by MAURICIO ENRIQUE FAU.

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Rex, John | FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEMS OF SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY

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Rex, John

FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEMS OF SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY

CHAPTER 3 THE OBJECT OF STUDY OF SOCIOLOGY

PURE EMPIRISTIC SOCIOLOGY FACES THE FOLLOWING DILEMMA: EITHER IT STUDIES FACTS THAT, ALTHOUGH DEMONSTRABLE AND MEASURABLE, ARE NOT SOCIOLOGICAL OR IT ANALYZES INSTITUTIONS AND RELATIONS THAT ARE NOT DIRECTLY OBSERVABLE

TO ESCAPE THIS DILEMMA, Rex proposes to establish what the social determinants of human behavior are in empirical terms. What he means by this is that it is necessary to elaborate a set of rules that serve to identify sociological statements for the verification of theoretical propositions. The problem of the object of study of sociology is to define which entities are relevant for its study. Durkheim was the first to tackle this problem.

The definition of social facts as external

Durkheim recognizes a class of social determinants of behavior whose main characteristic is that they are external to the individual. These determinants are expressed in the law, custom, obligation, contract, duty and differ from those that come from within us. These facts exert an external coercion from the point of view of the participating actor. Laws fit this definition because they are external to the individual and exist independently of the behaviors that gave rise to them. But the study of laws supposes a complex methodological procedure. The reason why the law, being ultimately a piece of paper containing an obligation, is obeyed is related to the theory of the participants. The law is something that the participants build and they themselves believe that there should be a sanction in case of non-compliance. According to Durkheim there are other facts that are not materially crystallized as a law but nevertheless influence the social behavior of the individual. These are social currents or group mentality. They do not originate in any particular consciousness, they come from outside but they are present in the consciousness of all individuals.

However, this force is not tangible or observable. Participating actors do not perceive social currents, but rather experience them as individuals. Durkheim is forced to develop a theoretical construction to explain the social determination of individual phenomena (eg suicide). This theoretical variable is in this case the concept of social mentality. Statistical indices are the means by which he verifies his propositions.

The science of culture and the science of society

Durkheim made an important analysis of the social determinants of individual behavior. But the sociologist also poses other problems. If culture is the totality of the knowledge, beliefs, laws and customs