Our Typed Responses Should Be Taken Exclusively From The Ass

Our Typed Responses Should Be Taken Exclusively From The Assigned Read

Our typed responses should be taken exclusively from the assigned reading, any relevant class notes that can assist in your response, and your interpretation of the assigned material. No outside research or sources are required. Your written responses should be approximately one-two paragraphs per question (i.e., 4-8 paragraphs total), but of course can be as long as you feel necessary to answer the questions adequately. Be sure to include all of your group member’s names on the document and submit it through Canvas prior to 11:00 PM on September 14th. Only MS Word documents will be accepted for credit.

This includes “.doc” and “.docx” file extensions. The following readings will be included on this assignment: DelSordi - chapter 1 (online), Schaefer - chapter 1 (pages 1-21), Schaefer - chapter 2. The specific questions are:

1. DelSordi - chapter 1 & Schaefer - chapter 1: Explain the cultural trend in America of “declining social capital.” What distinct changes are causing this decline and what are its consequences? Finally, how would “functionalist” and “social conflict” theorists explain this problem differently and understand how this problem arises from different sources?
2. DelSordi - chapter 1: According to your reading, what is positivism and how does it seek to understand society? How is positivism inadequate in understanding the complexity of the human condition? Finally, how does postmodernism offer a newer means by which we can understand cultural and social change?

Paper For Above instruction

The phenomenon of declining social capital in America has garnered significant scholarly attention due to its implications for social cohesion and societal well-being. Social capital, broadly defined as the networks, norms, and social trust that facilitate coordination and cooperation for mutual benefit, has diminished over recent decades. This decline is attributed to various changes such as increased individualism, technological advancements reducing face-to-face interactions, and changing work and community structures. The erosion of social capital has led to weaker community bonds, diminished civic engagement, and increased social isolation, which can negatively affect both individual well-being and societal stability. Functionalist theorists interpret this decline as a disruptive symptom that hampers social cohesion and the smooth functioning of society. They argue that social capital fosters collective efficacy and social integration, and its decline undermines social solidarity, leading to social disorganization. Conversely, social conflict theorists view the decline as a consequence of structural inequalities and power struggles that benefit dominant groups while marginalizing others. They see this erosion as a result of capitalist individualism and systemic neglect of communal bonds, ultimately exacerbating social inequalities and perpetuating social divisions.

Positivism, as described by DelSordi, is a philosophical approach asserting that society can be studied scientifically through observable and measurable facts. It seeks to understand society by applying scientific methods to identify patterns and regularities in social behavior, emphasizing objectivity and empirical evidence. Positivism assumes that social phenomena have causes that can be uncovered through systematic observation and analysis, aiming to establish general laws of social behavior. However, this approach is inadequate in capturing the full complexity of the human condition, as it tends to oversimplify human experiences and neglect subjective, emotional, and cultural dimensions. Human actions are often influenced by meanings, symbols, and individual agency that positivism struggles to accommodate. Postmodernism offers a novel perspective by challenging the idea of objective, universal truths, emphasizing instead the fragmented, pluralistic, and subjective nature of social reality. It argues that social and cultural change is not linear or governed solely by scientific laws but is shaped by diverse narratives, power relations, and cultural contexts. Postmodernism thus provides a more flexible and nuanced understanding of social phenomena, recognizing the fluidity and multiplicity of human experiences.

References

• DelSordi, S. (Year). Chapter 1.
• Schaefer, R. T. (Year). Chapter 1 (pp. 1-21).
• Schaefer, R. T. (Year). Chapter 2.
• Putnam, R. D. (2000). Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community. Simon & Schuster.
• Bourdieu, P. (1986). The Forms of Capital. In J. Richard (Ed.), Handbook of Theory and Research for the Sociology of Education (pp. 241-258). Greenwood.
• Comte, A. (1830). The Positive Philosophy. Paris: Bachelier.
• Lyotard, J-F. (1979). The Postmodern Condition: A Report on Knowledge. University of Minnesota Press.
• Foucault, M. (1977). Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison. Vintage Books.
• Giddens, A. (1984). The Constitution of Society: Outline of the Theory of Structuration. University of California Press.
• Habermas, J. (1984). The Theory of Communicative Action. Beacon Press.