SOCIOLOGY

Social Thought and Social Change

Social Thought and Social Change

Introduction

Sociology is the broad area of knowledge and so are its two broad areas or majors of knowledge which are popularly known as social change and social thought. Social thought deals with the study of formation of general theories which help sociologists and psychologists understand the actions and behaviors of society as well as cover the broader areas of philosophical, sociological and political ideas. The objective of those social theories discussed in social thought is to generalize the concepts and make distinctions among various types of societies and growth and evolution they have gained during the period of last few centuries. Social change deals with the changes, modifications or alterations being made in society. Social change may refer to any kind of social progress which helps society more towards the evolutionary and dialectical framework (Spencer, 1972). Different sociological concepts are therefore of great importance in sociology literature such as relationship between enlightenment and social change, stages of history and progress, legal rational authority and bureaucracy and division of labor and solidarity.

This paper therefore will discuss these four concepts in detailed manner by providing an introduction/context first for each pair which provides insights into the origins of concepts by expressing in terms of theories, then moving forward to discussion/content by providing definition and relationship of each concept and finally identifying the problems/issues arising from the relationship.

The Enlightenment and Social Change

Context

The origin and theory of enlightenment and social change is highly significant in history of sociology. Enlightenment was the movement which was started in Europe during the 1650s and ends around 1800s which is based on the concept of reasoning each and every thing in nature and individualism and neglects the approach of superstition, tradition, and established doctrines or strong beliefs. The theory is subject to mixed success with the social change. There are many scholars who have expressed that idea of enlightenment is revolutionary theory which gives hope in times of social change resulted in despair, exploitation and violence. However, most theorists have largely criticized the idea of enlightenment in their theories that enlightenment is fake spectacle of domination of nature by placing machinations designed by public servant and cultural experts of all sorts (Macionis & Plummer, 2005). Some others relate the origin of enlightenment with social change as reason to promote willingly the immorality by allowing the excessive individual freedom in the society which makes them separate from religion and nature. Thus it brings more negative social change than positive social change. The reason of most criticism is also subject due to inversions imparted which leads to view this as tool of domination towards nature as explained by theorists Max Horkheimer and Theodor Adorno. Some other theorists like Max Weber and Karl Marx proposed the theory which sees enlightenment as totally administered world leading to the nightmares of fascism. These theorists also argue that enlightenment is not the outcome of inversions of up downs but is itself a means of ...