A Critical outline of the main features of Functionalism,...

Sociology, the study of society; has been adapted by many sociologists so as to put across their own theories. The most important Sociologists of the early 19th century were Emile Durkeim, Karl Marx and Max Weber; a common factor with all these men is that they were all influenced by the world in which they lived. I intend to, throughout this essay, explain these three different theories, evaluate them and also critically outline their main features. The Functionalist sees society as built up and working like the human body, made up of interrelated parts, which function for or contribute to the maintenance of society as a whole. (Cited: Browne.K. Introducing Sociology , 2002). Functionalists are concerned with how the different parts†¦show more content†¦He saw society as a structure, which was divided into two parts, the infrastructure and the superstructure. The Infrastructure shapes the superstructures, in other words; the economic system will shape the rest of society. Marx saw contradictions in all societies; for example, in a capitalist society there is a conflict of interest. The company owners employ the workers at a low rate but subsequently gain substantial profits and rewards. In this instance one-group gains, at the expense of the other. Marx believed there would eventually be a revolt against the ruling classes (capitalist). This would result in the disappearance of the classes and therefore the disappearance of oppression and exploitation. This could only happen if the subject class knew they were being exploited but this would take time because the infrastructure was far more powerful. Another problem for the subject class was that political and legal systems were in favour of capitalism, this aided class domination. Therefore, capitalism was seen to be just and reasonable rather than oppressive and exploitive. Marx believed that capitalism would eventually destroy itself. A criticism of Marxism is that it sees individuals as a product of their social system, and pictures people as unable to make up their own, minds and take initiative. Cristianity was aShow MoreRelatedUnderstanding Conflict Through Sociological Perspective Essay5342 Words   |  22 Pagesretains traces of these approaches. In the present situation, the conflict theory is one of the two main theoretical frameworks of sociological understanding. Functionalism aims only toward a general perspective from which to conduct social science. Methodologically, its principles generally contrast those approaches that emphasize the  micro, such as  interpretivism  or  symbolic interactionism. Its emphasis on cohesive systems, however, also holds political ramifications. Functionalist theoriesRead MoreOrganisational Theory230255 Words   |  922 PagesUniversity, UK This new textbook usefully situates organization theory within the scholarly debates on modernism and postmodernism, and provides an advanced introduction to the heterogeneous study of organizations, including chapters on phenomenology, critical theory and psychoanalysis. Like all good textbooks, the book is accessible, well researched and readers are encouraged to view chapters as a starting point for getting to grips with the field of organization theory. Dr Martin Brigham, Lancaster University