2010 Course Handbook
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SOC222: Theories of Modern Society
How can we make sense of the complex, ever-changing character of the modern world? While there seems to be no single reliable guide, we can learn much from a conversation between some great sociological attempts to diagnose the tendencies and prospects of modernity. Modernity is characterised by a number of specific developments like democracy, capitalism, industrialism, nationalism, individualism and bureaucratisation. These are partly antagonistic, partly complementary, tendencies. In this unit we examine these diverse trends through the prism of a range of theories of modern society. We consider from among the following: Marx, Nietzsche, Weber, Durkheim, Simmel, Freud, the Frankfurt School and Foucault. Students are introduced to the knowledge, themes, and ideas that are not only essential building blocks for a contemporary sociological education, but which help them to look at their world with a lively curiosity about the rich potentials that we can choose from in building our futures. The unit is highly recommended to students who intend to major in sociology.
| Credit Points: | 3 |
| Contact Hours: | 3 |
| When Offered: | D2 - Day; Offered in the second half-year |
| Staff Contact(s): | Dr Norbert Ebert |
| Prerequisites: |
12cp |
| Corequisites: | |
| NCCW(s): | SOC232 |
| Unit Designation(s): | |
| Assessed As: | Graded |
| Offered By: | Department of Sociology |
Timetable Information
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