Skip to main content

Functional Theory - How society maintain its continuum

 In 19th century, Europe experiences the changes which led to disintegration of traditional society.  Modern society emerged out of modernity and social changes in Europe.  Change is driven by scientific will of collectivity.  Functional theory believed that society is integrated and interconnected with different parts.


When change is taking place, it cause disequilibrium to other parts.  Change is a form of continuity according to positivist.


August Comte the father of sociology understood law of action and reaction taking place in different institutions. For example government framed a policy, the people and other stakeholders react to it.  This is sociology of statics.  Statics predominates dynamics.

Theological (Religion) society and metaphysical(Philosophical) world undergoes scientific discoveries(rationality)

Society are subjected to continuity.  Because parts are interconnected. People action and reaction are determined by common values.


Herbert Spencer in his evolution theory, he is more affiliated with evolution.  He gaves the concept of differentiation when technology develops.   People engaged in different activities, specialization occurs.  Higher the degree of differentiation, more they are closer to each other.  Continuity of Sociology occurs


Emile Durkheim says Social facts are external to an individual.  It can be studied by scientific approach- Observation, Verification, Interpretation

Crime and Punishment : Normal and pathological social facts are two sides of same coin.  People conform to rules and law.  Few commits crime which offends the will of collective conscience.  Therefore, punishment inflicted on offenders.  The people who conform to rule of law believe and persist the rules of law giving rise to continuity of society.

Division of Labour: By conforming to rule of law, holding the position and playing the role.  Persistance and continuity of society by the will of collective conscience.

Religion is symbol when people attached their identiy, define their location, promotes integration.  Religion is universally functional and social necessity.

Suicide established the bondage between man and the society.


Vilfred Pareto  says every society is conducting the pursuit of change in different spheres.  Change cause disturbances, it will neutralised by intervention.  New form of consensus develops among society.  Changes giving rise to continuity in society.


Functional Theory in Anthropology

Brownislaw Malinowski conduct indepth study on Trobrianders islands in Pacific region.  Culture presents in society devotes the rules of marriage, participation on the modes of production, ritual practice.

In Simple society, it is greatly defined by cultural aspects.  Culture is injected into minds of people in varied ways through interpersonal communication, socialization, training.

Thinking in line of culture, people function their role in an expected manner.

As a result, different parts of society are interconnected and study society as a whole.

There is a difference between ideal culture and real culture.  The function of culture is to guide the man, directing specific form of behaviour, disciplining them.  Here society subjected to continuity.


Talcott Parsons says change is the creation of new thing and continuity in society.   Parson considers society as systems.  Every system has different parts and satisfy the functional prerequisites.  

AGIL model - Adaptation Goal Integration Latency 

Four Functional Prerequisites:

1. Economy negotiation with environment, obtaining resources.

2.Government identified goals for department

3. Helping society and individual to integrate through Education, Religious institution

4.Peer group addressing turmoil present in society


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Talcott Parsons- Social System, Pattern Variables

 Social system as product of rational impulses of human beings to integrate the needs and urges as orderly system. Subject matter of Parson is SOCIAL ACTION and SOCIAL SYSTEM GRAND THEORY OF SOCIAL ACTION Weber used Ideal type to explain all action of human beings Parson says Social action is derived from behaviour of human beings Behaviour became action through conditions like Goal orientation and situations, norms and values, energy or motivation or effort. Orientation of action is either be motivational based on needs, plans, exteriority or values such as values, aesthetic, morality, thinking Modes of Organisation 1. Personality system - Aspects of individual social functioning 2.Cultural system - Beliefs, values 3.Social system - interaction between individuals and organisation MOTIVATIONAL ORIENTATION  Weber gave passing reference on Motives but Parson emphasis more on Action Motives Action motives like 1.Cognitive( Thinking, Analysing) 2.Cathetic(Likes and dislikes) 3.E...

INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION in EUROPE

Emergence and Background With the advent of geographical discoveries and direct sea routes opened new avenues of trade and commerce.  It formed the basis of Industrial revolution. Economic progress through trade and commerce with increasing production of goods aided by technology and scientific inventions enhancing productions The another factors were emergence of Capitalist ideology(maximisation of profit) and easy modes of transportation. Factory production as a new mode of production to meet demand and supply gap Colonial quests led to discoveries of new cheap sources of raw materials and finding new markets for finished goods produced in Europe. Faster means of communication, commodification of labour, development of new source energy like coal, durable materials like steel were the other supporting factors for the rise of Industrial revolution ' PROFUNDITY OF CHANGE' Development of Science and Technology Flourished Trade and Comm...

RENAISSANCE AND SOCIOLOGY

Revolution is the sudden change! Evolution is the gradual change! Europe has witnessed dawn of Renaissance in art and science.  This phase followed by Modernisation and Industrialisation.  This period also marked important political events like French Revolution (1789) and American Revolution(1776). Renaissance and Sociology 1.Greater travel, rising wealth and greater knowledge of outer world led to new philosophy know as Renaissance. 2.Renaissance means Rebirth.  Literally means intellectual awakening.  It refers to war of thoughts between spirituality and rationality. 3.Triggering innovation and discoveries 4.Rise of new political order 5.Religious transformation through reformation Renaissance in west characterised by science questioning religion.  In case of India,  Religion was perfected through religious reform movements.  Superstition associated with religion was questioned in India.  In Western World, common c...