Durkheim: February 22
- April
3
Thursday, February 22
Durkheim, "What is a Social Fact?"
Durkheim, "Rules for Distinguishing the Normal and the Pathological," especially section iii [hand-out]
Recommended readings
Collins and Makowsky, chap. 6 in The Discovery of Society [available at reserve library only]
Giddens, chap. 6 in Capitalism and Modern Social Theory [available at reserve library only]
Questions to guide reading1. How does a social fact run counter to the idea of individualism?
2. How are normal and pathological not subjective or value-laden concepts?
Tuesday, February 27
Durkheim, pp. 1-87 of The Division of Labor in Society
David Kline, "Community," "Sharing Work With Children" and "The Value of Love" [hand-out]
Recommended readings
Lewis Coser, "Introduction " [pp. ix-xxiv in Durkheim's The Division of Labour in Society]
Giddens, chap. 5 in Capitalism and Modern Social Theory [available at reserve library only]
Questions to guide reading1. What is the public issue that motivates Durkheim's analysis of the division of labor?
2. Why does the punishment of crime take on a sacred quality under mechanical solidarity?
Thursday, March 1
Film: The Battle of Algiers
Tuesday, March 6
Durkheim, pp. 88-125, 154-165 of The Division of Labor in Society
Japan Wonders What Became of Quality Control (By Howard W. French, New York Times, September 9, 2000) [free registration is required to read this]
Questions to guide reading1. Is individualism the "religion" of organic solidarity? How does its function differ from religion under mechanical solidarity?
2. How do contracts morally regulate individuals under organic solidarity?
Thursday, March 8
Durkheim, "Anomic Suicide" [chapter 5 in Durkheim, Suicide: A Study in Sociology, available on reserve library only]
Durkheim, "Moral Education in the Schools" [hand-out]
Recommended readings
Giddens, chap. 7 in Capitalism and Modern Social Theory [available at reserve library only]
Questions to guide reading1. How is anomic suicide a modern problem?
2. How does discipline in school morally "attach" children to society?
FALL BREAK: March 10-25
Tuesday, March 27
Gaines, all of Teenage Wasteland
Questions to guide reading1. Do the Bergen, NJ, suicides reflect anomie or alienation?
2. Did moral education fail suburbia's dead-end kids?
Thursday, March 29
Exam review: no required reading
Recommended readings
School Shootings and White Denial (by Tim Wise, AlterNet, March 6, 2001)
Tuesday, April 3
Take in-class exam or turn in observation paper.
