Suchergebnisse

In a footnote to Ernest Gellner's theories on relativism (eg, 1985 & 1987), an objectivist defense of the social sciences is offered on the basis of theories that are successful according to Karl Popper's standards. Contemporary relativism & skepticism about the ability of the social sciences to produce objective or true theories arise out of Thomas Kuhn's (1962) work. It is argued that a good theory offers statements describing the necessary & sufficient conditions for the explanation of a phenomenon. Further, the nonempirical elements of this theory should be acceptable. These criteria are met by any number of social scientific theories, eg, Alexis de Tocqueville's discussion of why religion flourishes in the US. The interpretive elements integral to social scientific theories are discussed in relation to the example of the theories of the origins of modernity. The growth of social scientific knowledge offers reason to be optimistic about the theoretical successes of sociology. 28 References. H. von Rautenfeld

"This paper attempts to examine the development of sociology of work in India. It will lay greater stress on current research and will try to assess the discipline's position in academia and other fields. A brief background on the nature of Indian society, the process of industrialization in India and the subsequent emergence of studies relating to work will help in understanding the changing nature of the studies. This paper will concentrate mainly on researches related to the urban-industrial sector." (excerpt)

An introductory essay reviews the history & current status of sociological theory & research on men & masculinity from an international perspective. Key concepts & emerging themes are presented, & the role of feminist theories in promoting the study of masculinity is discussed. The issues of "men's rights," the designation of the early 21st century as a "postfeminist" era, & the contention that contemporary males are "in crisis" are considered. The critical perspective employed by all contributors to this volume & its application to key questions in gender research are reviewed. 85 References. K. Hyatt Stewart

The relationship between archaeology and other sciences has only recently become a research topic for sociologists and historians of science. From the 1950s to the present day, different approaches have been taken and the aims of research studies have changed considerably. Besides methodological textbooks, which aim at advancing archaeological knowledge, historians of archaeology have tackled this question by exploring the development of archaeology as a scientific discipline. More recently, collaborations between archaeologists and other scientists have been examined as a general phenomenon regarding transfers of knowledge and power relationships between specialists, organizations, and scientific tools, where archaeology is considered as a scientific practice. Adopting a sociohistorical perspective, this entry examines the specificity of aims, facts, and procedures shared by archaeologists and other scientists regarding the crucial question of measuring time and computations.

"The article explores ways of analyzing torture from a comparative perspective, using analytical instruments informed by the sociology of the body. The focus is on relations between torture practices, body knowledge, and body images. Three different ways of approaching the body by torture are distinguished: firstly, the direct infliction of violence as painful manipulation (examples being electric shocks or the Spanish Gaiter), secondly, the deprivation of vital inputs or intakes on which the body depends (like the restriction of air supply or the withholding of food), and thirdly, the subjection of the immobilized body to its own functions (for example by stress positions or the refusal of sanitary facilities). These three modes of torture practices are each connected to specific body images, this is, to generalized ways of viewing the human body, and to specific realms of body knowledge, this is, to specific arsenals of knowledge about the body, which are employed, modified and constructed in the practical actions of torture situations. It is argued that the differences as well as the similarities between specific cases of torture can be better understood by taking into account not only the actual torture practices themselves, but also their interconnectedness with body knowledge and body images the latter two aspects being fundamental for the ways in which torturers approach their victim and extort information by tormenting her or his body." (author's abstract)

"David Martins 'General Theory of Secularization' stellt die bisher beste historisch-soziologische Typologie von Religionsentwicklung und Prozessen der Säkularisierung in der europäisch-christlichen Zivilisation (einschließlich Nord- und Südamerikas) dar. Seit ihrer Veröffentlichung im Jahr 1978 haben sich sowohl in der Religionsgeschichte und Religionssoziologie als auch in der empirischen Anschauungsgrundlage (vor allem in Osteuropa, Südeuropa und Südamerika) enorme Entwicklungen vollzogen, ohne daß die Systematik dar Martinschen Säkularisierungstheorie erneut aufgegriffen und fortentwickelt worden wäre. Aus dieser Perspektive diskutiere ich vier Aspekte der Martinschen Säkularisierungstheorie in einem europäisch-amerikansichen Vergleichsrahmen 1. Den Begriff und die Dimensionen der Säkularisierung bei David Martin; 2. Das Verhältnis von Stsatsentwicklung, Nationbildung und Religion (vor allem im Blick auf Osteuropa); 3. Das Verhältnis von Ethnizität, Migration und Religion (vor allem hinsichtlich Nord- und Südamerikas): und 4. Das Verhältnis der Martinschen Typologie zum historischen Wandel von Konfigurationsbeziehungen von Religion und Säkularisierung im Rahmen von Modernisierungsprozessen." (Autorenreferat)

Explores the mutual learning processes that might occur at the increasing intersection of general & environmental sociology. At issue is what the sociology of flows has to offer in analyzing & understanding environmental flows in global modernity. The sociology of flows is overviewed, highlighting the work of M. Castells & J. Urry. The sociology of flows is discussed in relation to extant perspectives, particularly structuration theory, & the potential for the sociology of flows to contribute to understanding global environmental change is revealed. Environmental sociology is then addressed in terms of its historical engagement with flows, demonstrating that, in some traditions, flows are considered primarily in physical & biology terms, while others stress the social actors & dynamics of handling material flows in modern societies. Impediments confronted by environmental sociology in trying to comprehend contemporary material flows are identified. The sociology of flows is then assessed from the perspective of environmental sociology, highlighting issues of flow definitions, hybrids, power & inequalities, & states & governance. In this light, a reconstructed framework for an agenda for environmental sociology of flows is presented in closing. References. D. Edelman

Explores the mutual learning processes that might occur at the increasing intersection of general & environmental sociology. At issue is what the sociology of flows has to offer in analyzing & understanding environmental flows in global modernity. The sociology of flows is overviewed, highlighting the work of M. Castells & J. Urry. The sociology of flows is discussed in relation to extant perspectives, particularly structuration theory, & the potential for the sociology of flows to contribute to understanding global environmental change is revealed. Environmental sociology is then addressed in terms of its historical engagement with flows, demonstrating that, in some traditions, flows are considered primarily in physical & biology terms, while others stress the social actors & dynamics of handling material flows in modern societies. Impediments confronted by environmental sociology in trying to comprehend contemporary material flows are identified. The sociology of flows is then assessed from the perspective of environmental sociology, highlighting issues of flow definitions, hybrids, power & inequalities, & states & governance. In this light, a reconstructed framework for an agenda for environmental sociology of flows is presented in closing. References. D. Edelman

Traces the historical relation of gender to sociology & argues that the postmodern challenge has worked to alter the fundamental terms of debate. It is shown that traditional sociology's effort to incorporate gender into theories of stratification or inequality ended in ignoring the full power of gender as a category of social life. Feminist standpoint epistemology has informed a more explicitly feminist sociology, but a discussion of the work of Sandra Harding (1987) & Nancy Hartsock (1983) indicates that this framework simply replaces the masculine with a feminine viewpoint without troubling the basic totalizing framework of traditional sociology. Postmodern sociology is favored as an approach to gender because it destabilizes monolithic categories to ask how differentiations are produced by particular strategies & movements of power within the social field. By remaining close to the constitution of gender categories, it is argued that postmodern sociology opens the possibility of examining the relation of the actual & potential in the production of politics. 76 References. D. M. Smith