Three Major Theories
Functionalism
• It sees the world basically as a stable and ongoing entity. They are impressed with the
endurance of the family, organized religion, and other social institutions.
Conflict Theory
• It sees society as composed of many groups in conflict, competing for scarce resources.
Interactionism
• For them, the most interesting aspects of the social world are the everyday, routine
interactions among individuals that we sometimes take for granted.
Positivism
Emergence of Sociology
• Auguste Comte followed Saint-Simon, and developed his scientific view as “Positivism” or
“positive philosophy.”
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• The time was right after the French Revolution (1789) and Enlightenment. So many things
in the world were uncertain and disorder. Comte did not like the situation.