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Revolutions Ogburn Identifies Four Social Revolutions That Essay

Revolutions Ogburn identifies four social revolutions that have occurred as the result of new technologies. The first was the move from the hunter-gathered model to pastoralism or horticulturalism, where people settled either to raise animals or to grow plants for food. Technologies for hunting or agriculture made such moves possible. As we were able to learn enough about food production to remain in one place for extended periods, we chose to do so.

The next step was the move to an agrarian society. Using both animals and machinery, we were able to make significant improvements in food production, not just for food but for other uses as well. This allowed for much greater population density, as well as excess production for winter months. The third social revolution was the development of the industrial society. Machinery that dramatically increased productivity brought about industrial society, which incorporated a stronger division of labor. This lead to a dramatic restructuring of social relations, as instead of relationships or...

In this society, service is the primary occupation, rather than agriculture or industry. Improved transportation and especially communication helped to develop the post-industrial society, but so did advancements in industrial and agricultural production that allows most people to leave those fields (Boundless.com, 2007).
2. Ogburn identifies three processes of social change as well. These are hard determinism, soft determinism and cultural lag. Hard determinism argues that technology develops independent of social concerns. This technology drives the development of social structure and cultural values. The innovation of mobile communications was not intended to bring about social change, but rather to solve other problems. However, mobile communications have brought about social change in the way that we relate to one another.

Soft determinism holds that there is still room for…

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Boundless.com. (2007). The four social revolutions. Boundless.com. Retrieved April 13, 2013 from https://www.boundless.com/sociology/understanding-social-change/sources-social-change/four-social-revolutions/

Boundless.com. (2007). Ogburn's theory. Boundless.com. Retrieve April 13, 2013 from https://www.boundless.com/sociology/understanding-social-change/sources-social-change/ogburn-s-theory/
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