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WGU Introduction to Sociology - C273
Questions and Answers
Auguste Conte
Ans: Suggested we apply scientific method to social world, which is
known as Positivism
Viewed society as a living organism, similar to an animals body - must
function together to function smoothly. (functional analysis)
Herbert Spencer
Ans: *Called 2nd founder of sociology
*disagreed with Conte, believed sociologists should not guide social
reform
*societies are evolving from lower to higher form
*society's most capable and intelligent members service - the less
capable die out
*fittest members produce a more advanced society "The survival of the
fittest" or "Social Darwinism" (credited to Darwin because he applied it to
organisms.
Viewed society as a living organism, similar to an animals body - must
function together to function smoothly. (functional analysis)
Karl Marx
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Ans: *believed the engine of human history is class conflict
*society is made up of 2 classes
*economics is a central force in social change
*Bourgeoisie - capitalist own the means of production, money, land,
factories and machines
*Proletariat - workers;
*workers will unite and bread their chains of bondage
*introduced Conflict Theory
*did not think of himself as a sociologist
Bourgeoisie
Ans: Capitalists
they own the means of production - money, land, factories, and
machines.
Proletariat
Ans: Workers
Emile Durkheim
Ans: *succeeded in getting sociology recognized as a separate academic
discipline
*how social forces affect peoples behavior
*Social Integration
when all parts of society full their part it is in a "normal" state, if they do
not fulfill their function it is in an "abnormal" or pathological state.
(functional analysis)
Social Integration
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Ans: Degree to which people are tied to their social groups.
People with weaker social ties are more likely to commit suicide
Applying Durkheim
Ans: Patterns of behavior or recurring patterns or events
Max Weber
Ans: *used cross culture and historical materials to trace the cause of
social change and how social groups affect peoples orientation to life
*disagreed with Karl Marx
*Roman Catholics taught to hold on to tradition, protestant taught to
embrace change
*Protestant ethic
Protestant Ethic
Ans: *looked for sign they were in Gods good grace
*financial success-live frugal lives, saving ant investing money "the spirit
of capitalism"
This brought about capitalism
Harriet Martineau
Ans: *did writings because women were to focus on church, cooking,
children and clothes
*early female sociologist
*viewed sociology as a path to reform and improve society (stop
lynchings, integrate immigrants, improve working conditions)
W.E.B. DuBois
Ans: black sociologist
Jane Adams
© 2025 All rights reserved
WGU Introduction to Sociology - C273
Questions and Answers
Auguste Conte
Ans: Suggested we apply scientific method to social world, which is
known as Positivism
Viewed society as a living organism, similar to an animals body - must
function together to function smoothly. (functional analysis)
Herbert Spencer
Ans: *Called 2nd founder of sociology
*disagreed with Conte, believed sociologists should not guide social
reform
*societies are evolving from lower to higher form
*society's most capable and intelligent members service - the less
capable die out
*fittest members produce a more advanced society "The survival of the
fittest" or "Social Darwinism" (credited to Darwin because he applied it to
organisms.
Viewed society as a living organism, similar to an animals body - must
function together to function smoothly. (functional analysis)
Karl Marx
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 2 | Page
Ans: *believed the engine of human history is class conflict
*society is made up of 2 classes
*economics is a central force in social change
*Bourgeoisie - capitalist own the means of production, money, land,
factories and machines
*Proletariat - workers;
*workers will unite and bread their chains of bondage
*introduced Conflict Theory
*did not think of himself as a sociologist
Bourgeoisie
Ans: Capitalists
they own the means of production - money, land, factories, and
machines.
Proletariat
Ans: Workers
Emile Durkheim
Ans: *succeeded in getting sociology recognized as a separate academic
discipline
*how social forces affect peoples behavior
*Social Integration
when all parts of society full their part it is in a "normal" state, if they do
not fulfill their function it is in an "abnormal" or pathological state.
(functional analysis)
Social Integration
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 3 | Page
Ans: Degree to which people are tied to their social groups.
People with weaker social ties are more likely to commit suicide
Applying Durkheim
Ans: Patterns of behavior or recurring patterns or events
Max Weber
Ans: *used cross culture and historical materials to trace the cause of
social change and how social groups affect peoples orientation to life
*disagreed with Karl Marx
*Roman Catholics taught to hold on to tradition, protestant taught to
embrace change
*Protestant ethic
Protestant Ethic
Ans: *looked for sign they were in Gods good grace
*financial success-live frugal lives, saving ant investing money "the spirit
of capitalism"
This brought about capitalism
Harriet Martineau
Ans: *did writings because women were to focus on church, cooking,
children and clothes
*early female sociologist
*viewed sociology as a path to reform and improve society (stop
lynchings, integrate immigrants, improve working conditions)
W.E.B. DuBois
Ans: black sociologist
Jane Adams
© 2025 All rights reserved
