Classic Sociological Theories

obligatory courses

Remote learning

Classical sociological theories is a course in basic currents of social thought and the most important works of the classics of sociology.

The course covers the following groups of topics:

a. Classical theories of state and society (Plato, Aristotle)

b. Modern visions of the state and politics (Machiavelli, Locke, Hobbes)

c. The Enlightenment's vision of science and society

d. Marxism

e. The democratic theory of Alexis de Tocqueville and J.Stuart Mill

f. Positivism and positivist sociology (Comte, Durkheim)

g. Humanities and Sociology (Dilthey, Weber)

h. Formal Sociology (Simmel)

i. Culturalism (Znaniecki)

j. Psychoanalytical Theory of Culture (Freud)

Classical sociological theories is an introduction to the most important currents of social thought in the areas of classical political philosophy, modern concepts of the state, key social concepts of modernity and the foundations of sociological theory. Students read and discuss source texts, selected on the basis of many years of didactic practice of the department of History of Social Thought.

The course covers the following groups of topics: a. Classical theories of state and society (Plato, Aristotle); b. Early Christian Concepts of Society; c. Modern visions of state and politics (Machiavelli, Locke, Hobbes); d. The Enlightenment vision of science and society; e. Marxism; f. The democratic theory of Alexis de Tocqueville and John Stuart Mill; g. Marxism; f. Classics of sociology (Comte, Durkheim, Weber, Simmel); h. Psychoanalytic theory of culture (Freud).

Course include lectures (30 hours per year) and classes (60 hours per year). Each meating requires reading - 40-50 pages per week and at the end we expect students to complete writing assignment of about 20,000 characters length. Each semester ends with a written examination. Course requires a lot of work from students apart from lecture and classes.

Has systematized knowledge of social sciences and humanities

Has basic knowledge about the place of sociology in the system of sciences and its relations with other academic disciplines

Has basic knowledge about social structures and selected social institutions, and their interrelations

Is aware of social differentiation and existing social inequalities, as well as their impact on the life of individuals and the functioning of social groups

Has basic knowledge about the mechanisms of social group dynamics and interdependencies between groups and individuals

Has basic knowledge of methods used in research on cultural diversity

Understands the specificity of sociological analysis

Has basic knowledge about the functioning of the economy and its relations with other social institutions

Has basic knowledge of politics and participation of society in the public sphere

Has basic knowledge about the processes forming the basis of social stability and change, and understands their nature

Is aware of the processes occurring in Polish and global society and their consequences for social attitudes and institutions

Can record and observe social phenomena in a methodologically correct way

Can use basic sociological terms and categories to analyze societies, particularly contemporary Polish society

Can use basic theoretical categories to describe social changes in modern societies

Can conduct a simple analysis of the consequences of the processes occurring in modern societies

Can describe the role of culture in the life of the individual and society

Attendance at and preparation for classes are necessary conditions for passing.

In addition, each student must write a writing assignment, which is assessed by the instructor. The person conducting classes decides on the requirements for writing assignment as well as on additional conditions for completing the exercises (accepted number of absences, tests, etc.).

The subject of the final essay should be reported to the instructor before the completion of work. The essay must be submitted so the instructor can grade it before the exam - the schedule and exceptions to these deadlines are decided by the person conducting the classes. The work is graded on a score scale of 0-20 points, the threshold for completing the work is 11 points. The instructor also evaluates the student's activity on a scale of 0-10 points.

The points obtained for classes are included in the course assessment - in order to complete the course, students must also pass two exams, ending each of semesters. Only the final grade for the course, including all the components of the final assessment, is entered into the USOS (details below).

The KTS assessment consists of several elements:

a) in February there is a mid-year exam including the material of the lecture and the first semester of classes, 5 questions to choose from of 7, 50 points max, 30 passes; the colloquium may be corrected in March. One additional date for oral improvement should be agreed with the selected examiner before the summer session.

b) in June there is an exam covering the material of the second semester of exercises, 5 questions to choose from of 7, 50 points max, 30 passes, 2nd attempt available in September;

(c) Classes points are ascribed in June (scale 1-30); without passing the exercises, it is not possible to take the examination in June;

(d) The grading scale is as follows:

0 - 70 points - 2

71 - 85 points - 3

86 - 96 points - 3 +

97 - 107 points - 4

108- 118 points - 4 +

119-130 points - 5

Only the final grade will be entered into the student's record.