Macro Theory of Sociology Regarding the Classical

¶ … Macro Theory of Sociology

Regarding The Classical tradition and Social Imagination: Overall, what kinds of messages do we inherit from the "classical tradition"? How does the "sociological imagination" inspire and direct our activities as students and practitioners of the social sciences? How might an understanding of the key ideas of long-dead theorists inform how you live your personal life today? How might a reading of the classics benefit your everyday work life?

The Classical tradition of sociology stresses the importance of rational understanding of one's social and economic purpose in life. In other words, to be a fully functioning human entity in an ethical and moral context, one must be philosophically aware of the way one's social context has evolved, historically, and think critically to create an ethical system of morality. Even though the current postmodern conception of the sociological imagination may not be commensurate with, for instance, all of the critic Vendler's ideas of his own century, an idea of this theorist's analysis of his own society's capitalist culture of consumption -- in other words, the use of physical commodities and conspicuous consumption to identify one's self can inform one's personal life -- could certainly be applied to our own.

Before one invests in an expensive pair of Nike sneakers or a Gucci bag with the alphabet on it, one can rigorously examine one's consciousness and unconscious reasons for purchasing the item. In other words, one can ask one's self, why do I desire this particular commodity? Is it because the outer world knows these items to be expensive, and thus according to the unspoken but present middle-class ideology of conspicuous consumption, it will make me seem wealthier? Or is it because of my need for these items and their intrinsic quality?

This sort of classical, rational, rigorous self-examination through a sociological lens will enable individuals to strike a more balanced aspect between work and personal life. As one better understands why work is valued as such an estimation of human value, upon the marketplace, because of a relatively recently evolved way of reckoning human value, one needs to value one's self less through material and professional accomplishments. One can better, even if one does not succeed in conventional vocational terms, appreciate the less economically valued, but more morally and personally valuable contributions one makes to society.

Question 2: Contrasting Weber and Durkheim: How do the ideas of Max Weber and Emile Durkheim compare and contrast? For example, how does each understand the basic notion of "society" and what constitutes the "social"? How does each view and analyze the problems and issues of modern society? How do their approaches to the study of society compare and contrast?