Charles Mill’s Theory of Sociological Imagination
Tumin, Melvin M. “Some Principles of Stratification: A Critical Analysis.” American Sociological Review 18.4 (1953): 387–394. Web. 26 Feb. 2017.
What is being explained?
The inevitability and positive functionality of stratification and institutionalized social inequality in rewards.
What is the theoretical perspective taken by the author?
Functionalist.
What are the key questions being asked?
Why do certain positions in any society are more functionally important than others and require special skills for their performance?
Why there is a limited number of individuals in a society who have special talents and who in turn can have the more functionally important positions?
Summarize the author’s main argument by highlighting main claim examples.
In the article “Some principles of Stratification: A critical Analysis”, Melvin Tumin claims that the limits of talent in not an adequate explanation of stratification. Stratification system has its artificial limits to the development of potential skills of individuals. For instance, education, wealth, etc., are the aspects that influence who will be selected for positions that are more prestigious. In addition, the author emphasizes that the universality of stratification is not always beneficial or inevitable. Very often stratification can be dysfunctional.
Kingsley, Davis, and Wilbert E. Moore. “Some Principles of Stratification.” American Sociological Review Vol. 10 pp. 242-249.No. 2 (1994): pp. 242–249. Online. 26 Feb. 2017.
What is being explained?
The importance of stratification for society.
What is the theoretical perspective taken by the author?
Structural functionalism.
What are the key questions being asked?
Why are some positions in society higher than others?
Why do the higher positions carry more status and rewards?
Summarize the author’s main argument by highlighting main claim examples.
It is claimed in the article that societies are stratified because inequality is inevitable and necessary to the smooth working of society. Moreover, authors claims that inequality benefits society.
The social construction of reality: A treatise in the sociology of knowledge. London: Penguin Books, 28 Mar. 1991. pp. 1–18. Print.
What is being explained?
The importance of understanding that the reality we live in is socially constructed.
What is the theoretical perspective taken by the author?
Social constructionism.
What are the key questions being asked?
What is the sociological interest in “reality” and “knowledge”?
Summarize the author’s main argument by highlighting main claim examples.
The reality is socially constructed and the sociology of knowledge have to analyze the process in which it occurs. The author emphasizes that we have to consider social facts as things.
Professor of Sociology Kenneth A Gould, ed. “The Sociological Imagination.” Thirty readings in introductory sociology. New York: Oxford University Press, USA, 11 Sept. 2012. pp. 1–13. Print.
What is being explained?
In the book chapter it is explained Charles Mill’s theory of sociological imagination and how it can explain the social structure of individuals’ life.
What is the theoretical perspective taken by the author?
Structuralism.
What are the key questions being asked?
What is the role of social imagination in understanding social stratification?
Summarize the author’s main argument by highlighting main claim examples.
The main claim is to view a person as a part of his/her social context, instead of viewing a person as an isolated identity with personal problems. Moreover, we should understand …
