Classical Sociological Thinkers (B.A Sociology)

Sociological ideas of Comte, Spencer, Durkheim, Weber and Marx.

6 MonthsDuration 5Chapters24Topics

Syllabus · पाठ्यक्रम

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01Unit 1: Auguste Comte 5 topics
  1. Life and works
  2. Law of three stages
  3. Positivism
  4. Hierarchy of sciences
  5. Social statics and social dynamics
02Unit 2: Herbert Spencer 5 topics
  1. Life and works
  2. Theory of social evolution
  3. Organic analogy
  4. Militant and industrial societies
  5. Survival of the fittest
03Unit 3: Emile Durkheim 4 topics
  1. Social facts and rules of sociological method
  2. Division of labour: mechanical and organic solidarity
  3. Theory of suicide: egoistic, altruistic, anomic, fatalistic
  4. Elementary forms of religious life: sacred and profane
04Unit 4: Max Weber 5 topics
  1. Social action and its types
  2. Ideal type
  3. Types of authority
  4. Bureaucracy
  5. The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism
05Unit 5: Karl Marx 5 topics
  1. Historical and dialectical materialism
  2. Base and superstructure
  3. Class and class struggle
  4. Alienation
  5. Surplus value

About

You will be able to

  • Explain Comte's positivism, law of three stages and hierarchy of sciences
  • Explain Spencer's social evolution and organic analogy
  • Explain Durkheim's social facts, division of labour, suicide and religion
  • Explain Weber's social action, ideal type, authority, bureaucracy and the Protestant ethic
  • Explain Marx's historical materialism, class struggle, alienation and surplus value
  • Compare the classical thinkers and write critical answers

Who it is for

  • B.A Semester 5 students with Sociology as a major subject (UP State Universities, NEP 2020)
  • UPSC / UPPSC aspirants with sociology as an optional subject

What you need

  • Sociology papers of Semesters 1-4

Questions

Which syllabus does this course follow?

It follows the UP State Universities NEP 2020 common minimum syllabus (MGKVP, VBSPU, Lucknow University and others) for B.A Sociology, Semester 5. Where your own university's syllabus differs, the centre follows your university syllabus.

How will I be tested?

Unit-wise MCQ tests, short and long answer practice in university exam pattern, and a final mock paper.

Do I need to read the original books?

Not for the B.A exam. Summaries of the key works are given, with names, years and core ideas.

Download the syllabus (PDF)

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