About this course: This Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) will offer the participants an introduction into the most important classical sociological readings between the 18th and 20th century. Highly influential social science scholars, such as Karl Marx, Max Weber and Emile Durkheim, will be discussed during 8 sessions. Combined with small tests, based on the video’s and recommended readings, the participants will be encouraged to dive deeply into the complex texts and get familiar with classical sociological concepts that are still very relevant today.
Created by: University of Amsterdam
Taught by: Bart van Heerikhuizen, Dr.
Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences
| Commitment | 20-25 hours |
| Language | English |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Session 1: Classical Sociological Theory - An Introduction
In this session the field of classical sociological theory will be introduced. It explains the historical roots of sociology. It shows you why classical sociological theories are still important in modern societies and it explains the Aims and Claims of this Course.
8 videos, 3 readings, 1 practice quiz
- Reading: Welcome note
- Reading: Transcripts
- Video: 1.1 What is this course about?
- Video: 1.2 Implicit Theories in Everyday Life
- Video: 1.3 What is Sociological Theory?
- Video: 1.4 Founding Fathers
- Video: 1.5 Sociology in the Modern Industrial Age
- Video: 1.6 Linking Classical to Contemporary Theories
- Video: 1.7 The Sociological Theoretical Field
- Video: 1.8 Aims and Claims of this Course
- Reading: Classical Sociological Theory - An Introduction
- Practice Quiz: Classical Sociological Theory - An Introduction
WEEK 2
Session 2: Bernard Mandeville (1670-1733) and Adam Smith (1723-1790)
This session explains the work of Adam Smith. It shows you how a poem written by Bernard Mandeville inspired Adam Smith. Adam Smith's theory shines light on the consequences of industrialization. You will learn what the consequences are of the Division of Labour.
7 videos, 1 reading
- Video: 2.1 The Fable of the Bees
- Video: 2.2 The Invisible Hand
- Video: 2.3 The Division of Labour
- Video: 2.4 The Wealth of Nations
- Video: 2.5 Exchange and Self-interest
- Video: 2.6 Social Stratification
- Video: 2.7 The Importance of Adam Smith
- Reading: Bernard Mandeville (1670-1733) and Adam Smith (1723-1790)
Graded: Bernard Mandeville (1670-1733) and Adam Smith (1723-1790)
WEEK 3
Session 3: Auguste Comte (1798-1857)
This session will cover the author of the word “sociology”, August Comte. He often engaged in theorizing the social world in order to attempt to discover invariant laws. Terms like “positivism”, “the law of the three stages” and “Functionalism” are prominent topics in this session. Comte believed that positivism could both advance science (theory) and change the ways people live their lives (practice).
8 videos, 1 reading
- Video: 3.1 Religious and Scientific Knowledge
- Video: 3.2 The Law of the Three Stages of the Human Mind
- Video: 3.3 Sociology as a Means to Establish Social Harmony
- Video: 3.4 The Law of the Classification of Sciences
- Video: 3.5 Religious Thought as Starting Point
- Video: 3.6 Comte’s Religion of Humanity
- Video: 3.7 Early Functionalism
- Video: 3.8 The Importance of Auguste Comte
- Reading: Auguste Comte (1798-1857)
Graded: Auguste Comte (1798-1857)
WEEK 4
Session 4: Alexis de Tocqueville (1805-1859)
Tocqueville’s works shaped 19th-century discussions of liberalism and equality, and were rediscovered in the 20th century as sociologists debated the causes and cures of tyranny and revolutions. His famous work “Democracy in America” remains widely read and even more widely quoted. This session will cover Tocqueville’s most important ideas.
8 videos, 1 reading
- Video: 4.1 Tocqueville as a Precursor of Modern Sociology
- Video: 4.2 An Aristocratic Perspective
- Video: 4.3 On Democratisation
- Video: 4.4 The Dominance of the Middle-Class
- Video: 4.5 The Dangers of Centralisation
- Video: 4.6 Grassroots Politics as the Heart of Democracy
- Video: 4.7 ‘Revolutions Will Become Rare’
- Video: 4.8 Tocqueville’s Predictions
- Reading: Alexis de Tocqueville (1805-1859)
Graded: Alexis de Tocqueville (1805-1859)
WEEK 5
Session 5: Karl Marx (1818-1883)
The German philosopher, radical economist, and revolutionary leader Karl Marx founded modern "scientific" socialism. His basic ideas, known as Marxism, form the foundation of socialist and communist movements throughout the world. Several topics like alienation, class struggle, and capitalism will be covered in this week's session.
8 videos, 1 reading
- Video: 5.1 The Unexpected Force of Social Thought
- Video: 5.2 Economic Chains of Interdependency
- Video: 5.3 Homo Faber
- Video: 5.4 Alienation
- Video: 5.5 Class Struggle
- Video: 5.6 Caught in the Capitalist System
- Video: 5.7 Class Consciousness
- Video: 5.8 Marx’s Predictions
- Reading: Karl Marx (1818-1883)
Graded: Karl Marx (1818-1883)
WEEK 6
Session 6: Émile Durkheim (1858-1917)
When thinking of Durkheim, one thinks of social facts. According to Durkheim these social facts are the social structures and cultural norms and values that are external to, and coercive over, individuals. Durkheim argues that two social facts, in particular, influence suicide rates: integration, and regulation. This session will cover the views of Durkheim on topics like solidarity, suicide, and religion.
8 videos, 1 reading
- Video: 6.1 Establishing a New Science
- Video: 6.2 Mechanic and Organic Solidarity
- Video: 6.3 Social Facts
- Video: 6.4 Suicide, a Sociological Study
- Video: 6.5 Egoistic and Altruistic Suicide
- Video: 6.6 Anomic and Fatalistic Suicide
- Video: 6.7 The Elementary Forms of Religious Life
- Video: 6.8 The Social Functions of Religion
- Reading: Émile Durkheim (1858-1917)
Graded: Émile Durkheim (1858-1917)
WEEK 7
Session 7: Max Weber (1864-1920)
This week shines a light on the work of Max Weber. From social action, verstehen, and ideal types to rationalisation and his famous work on the Protestant Ethic. Weber's theory of society tried to account for the manner in which various symbolic factors take part in establishing social status, stratification and inequality. His influence still runs throughout the realms of politics, religion and economics.
8 videos, 1 reading
- Video: 7.1 Value-Free Sociology
- Video: 7.2 Understanding Social Action
- Video: 7.3 The Ideal Type
- Video: 7.4 Methodological Individualism
- Video: 7.5 The Four Ideal Types of Social Action
- Video: 7.6 The Three Ideal Types of Authority
- Video: 7.7 Rationalisation
- Video: 7.8 The Protestant Ethic and The Spirit of Capitalism
- Reading: Max Weber (1864-1920)
Graded: Max Weber (1864-1920)
WEEK 8
Session 8: Norbert Elias (1897-1990)
Elias is the last of the Classical Sociologists. Elias' theory focusses on long term trends, with his so called process or figurational sociology. He shows us how the civilisation proces can be explained in terms like Self-Constraint and Figurations.
8 videos, 1 reading
- Video: 8.1 The Last of the Great Classic Sociologists
- Video: 8.2 Introduction to the Civilizing Process
- Video: 8.3 The Social Constraint Towards Self-Constraint
- Video: 8.4 The Conditions of Civilisation
- Video: 8.5 The Importance of Norbert Elias
- Video: 8.6 A Base for Contemporary Studies
- Video: 8.7 Figurational Processes
- Video: 8.8 Classical Sociological Theories: a Focus on Long Term Trends
- Reading: Norbert Elias (1897-1990)
Graded: Norbert Elias (1897-1990)
Classical Sociological Theory Final Test
This is the final test. This test contains 87 question. To pass this test you need to answer at least 57 questions correct.
Graded: Final Test
FAQs
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A modern university with a rich history, the University of Amsterdam
(UvA) traces its roots back to 1632, when the Golden Age school Athenaeum
Illustre was established to train students in trade and philosophy. Today,
with more than 30,000 students, 5,000 staff and 285 study programmes
(Bachelor's and Master's), many of which are taught in English, and a
budget of more than 600 million euros, it is one of the largest
comprehensive universities in Europe. It is a member of the League of
European Research Universities and also maintains intensive contact with
other leading research universities around the world.
Ratings and Reviews
Dr. Bart van Heerikhuizen is an extremely engaging professor. He creates such a clear picture of the theory that when you start reading the texts, even the most complicated subject becomes much easier to get a hold of.
Amazing
Great introduction to classical sociologists. What I was looking for in terms of getting a taste of what studying Sociology for higher studies would entail.
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SB
The first Lecture of the classical sociological theories course I attended last week is nicely designed and presented. its easy to grasp and it keep the student engaged. I like it very much and I hope I will learn a lot by its completion.