Classical Sociological Theory Course Course

1. Classical Sociological Theory – An Introduction
Duration: 1 hour

• Introduction to the field of classical sociological theory.

• Historical roots and relevance in modern societies.

• Overview of course aims and structure. 

2. Bernard Mandeville and Adam Smith
Duration: 1 hour

• Examination of Mandeville’s “The Fable of the Bees” and its influence on Adam Smith.

• Discussion on the division of labor and industrialization. 

3. Auguste Comte
Duration: 1 hour

• Exploration of Comte’s positivism and the “law of three stages.”

• Understanding Comte’s vision for sociology as a science 

4. Alexis de Tocqueville
Duration: 1 hour

• Analysis of Tocqueville’s insights on democracy and equality.

• Relevance of his work in understanding modern political systems. 

5. Karl Marx
Duration: 1 hour

• Study of Marx’s theories on capitalism, class struggle, and alienation.

• Impact of Marxism on contemporary sociological thought. 

6. Émile Durkheim
Duration: 1 hour

• Investigation into Durkheim’s concepts of social facts, solidarity, and suicide.

• Durkheim’s methodological contributions to sociology. 

7. Max Weber
Duration: 1 hour

• Understanding Weber’s ideas on rationalization, bureaucracy, and the “Protestant Ethic.”

• Weber’s approach to social action and interpretive sociology. 

8. Norbert Elias
Duration: 1 hour

• Introduction to Elias’s process sociology and the civilizing process.

• Discussion on long-term social developments and self-constraint. 

9. Final Test
Duration: 30 minutes

• Comprehensive assessment covering all course material.

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