Sociologists Works and Modern Examples
A Reflection Sociologists’ Works and Modern Examples
Historically there are various sociologists who have developed critical works in the field of sociology. Their ideas have been effective since the ancient days and are up-to-date applied. Some of the fundamental sociologists include but not limited to Durkheim, Weber, and Du Bois. From their sociological works, there are principle ideas that I found crucial following their applicability in the contemporary world. For instance, Weber has elaborately explained more about types of authority which he related to legitimate dominance. Du Bois talked about double consciousness, whereby he focused on the discrimination feelings of African Americans, the main issue in the United States today. Durkheim was advocating for a social structure whereby he argued that in a society, there should be grouping based on the set of roles or groups that are structurally-grouped.
Du Bois Double Consciousness
The term double consciousness refers to an internal struggle experienced by the subordinates in an oppressive society (Itzigsoh & Brown, 2015. Originally, double consciousness specifically was used to refer to an African American psychological challenges experienced through racism. Du Bois used this phrase to refer to his condition as he was trying to reconcile to his African tradition with a European-dominated society upbringing society (Itzigsoh & Brown, 2015. In the modern world, many discrimination fatalities are being reported in the United States, where African Americans, among other non-Americans, are physically and psychologically tortured. For instance, a few days ago, white police have been associated with George Floyd’s death. These are some of the racial experiences that African Americans go through in the modern days.
Weber’s Types of Legitimate Dominations
The three dominations, according to Weber, include traditional authority, charismatic authority, and legal (rational) authority (Szelenyi, 2016). Traditional authority refers to a type of authority where the dominant group or individual’s traditional rights are accepted, or they are least challenged by the subordinates in a society. The second type of legitimate domination was charismatic authority. In this case, Weber argues that devotion rested to heroism, exceptional sanctity, or an individual’s exemplary character and of the order revealed by him. Such people are consulted even by the government leaders, and therefore they are obeyed, accepted, and are claim some power over the subordinates. The third legitimate domination is legal authority. The legal authority also refers to rational authority (Szelenyi, 2016). In this case, society beliefs, accepts and obeys, to legality of enacted rights and rules of individuals elevated to authority. These types of leadership are still experienced in the modern world. For instance, we have priests who are leaders of churches, and they are accepted and obeyed by the subordinates. Some heroes are exhibiting supernatural powers and are also respected, for example, witch doctors. For the case of legal authority, we have legislative leaders who decide on what rules should be adhered to by the subordinates.
Durkheim Social Structure
Social structure refers to societal social arrangements emerging from and determinants of an individual’s actions (Serafini & Lash, 2016). according to Durkheim, a society ought to be grouped into social structures like religion, family economy, and law. In recent days, this idea is still applied since society has social structures that are related. For instance, we have political groups that are our leaders, we have different families making the society, and also we have different religions with various meanings and functions. There is Christianity, Hinduism, and Islamic, among others (Serafini & Lash, 2016). Economically we have private and public enterprises in modern society similar to the ideas of Karl Max of capitalism and communism regarding ownership of factors of production.
References
Itzigsohn, J., & Brown, K. (2015). Sociology and the theory of double consciousness: WEB Du Bois’s phenomenology of racialized subjectivity. Du Bois Review: Social Science Research on Race, 12(2), 231-248.
Serafini, L., & Lash, S. (2016). Cultural Studies and Cultural Sociology. Scott Lash in Conversation with Luca Serafini. Sociologica, 10(1), 0-0.
Szelenyi, I. (2016). Weber’s theory of domination and post-communist capitalisms. Theory and Society, 45(1), 1-24.