Why Sociology

1
Why Sociology?

• 1. Why are you taking this Intro Sociology
  course?
• 2. What have you experienced in your life that
  you think Sociology might help you understand?

2
The Sociological Imagination Increasing
Self-Understanding

• 1.) What are the structures of my society like?
• How is my society organized and how does it
  operate?
• How is it similar to and different from other
  societies?

3
The Sociological Imagination Increasing
Self-Understanding

• 2.) Where does my society fit into the broader
  picture of human history?
• How does the history of my society influence its
  current organization?
• What are the most important aspects of the
  current historical epoch?
• Where does my society seem to be going?

4
The Sociological Imagination Increasing
Self-Understanding

• 3.) How do the structures of my society and the
  historical period of which I am a part influence
  me and those around me?
• What social and historical forces have shaped
  and moulded my character and personality?

5
The Sociological Imagination C. Wright Mills

• The ability to see
• the connection between personal troubles and
  public issues.
• the connection between biography, social
  relations and historical change.

6
The Sociological ImaginationSocial Structures

• Social Structures
• Are stable patterns of social relations.
• Help identify and explain the connection between
  your personal troubles and public issues.

7
Important Course Information

• Website www.chass.utoronto.ca/sociology101y/welsh
  
• Professor Welshs contact information
• Phone [phone]
• Office 725 Spadina Ave., Room 380
• e-mail welsh_at_chass.utoronto.ca
• Ms. Colavecchias contact information
• Phone [phone]
• e-mail soc101y_at_chass.utoronto.ca

8
October 10th class

• Due to room conflict, October 10th class will be
  held in the
• Medical Sciences Bldg.
• 1 Kings College Circle
• Room 2158

9
Organization of Class

• 210 - 300    Lecture, part I
• 300 - 310    Break
• 310 - 420    Lecture, part II Movie (about
  every second week)
• 420 - 430 Question and answer period (will
  take place from 400-430 when there is no movie)

10
Durkheim, Suicide and Social Solidarity

• suicide varies with the degree of integration
  of the social groups of which the individual is a
  part (Durkheim, 19511897 209.

11
Durkheims Theory of Suicide
High
anomic suicide
altruistic suicide
Suicide frequency
Low
High
Low
Social solidarity
12
Suicide by Age and Sex, Canada, 1995
Suicides per 100,000 people
Age
13
Durkheim and the Sociological Perspective

• Patterns of social relations determine human
  action (not God, not nature)
• Ideas about the connection between social
  relations and human action must be based on
  evidence (not speculation, not commonsense)
• Human action can change society