Lesson 1.6: Society as an Objective Reality

• What is the origin of the word "society"?

  It comes from the Latin word "societas," derived from "socius" meaning comrade, friend, or ally.
• How is society defined?

  Society is a group of individuals with interconnected relationships and shared norms.
• What can society refer to?

  It can refer to both interconnected human groups and smaller, more specific groups like families.
• How is society characterized in terms of organization?

  It is defined as an organization of groups that is relatively self-contained.
• What does methodological individualism emphasize?

  It emphasizes the importance of understanding social phenomena by analyzing the actions and choices of individual actors.
• What is the reductionist approach in methodological individualism?

  It reduces collective behaviors and social outcomes to the aggregation of individual decisions and interactions.
• What is a critique of methodological individualism?

  It overlooks the importance of structural factors and collective action.
• What does sociological realism argue about society?

  It argues that society is a unique entity, distinct from individuals, and exerts an objective influence over them.
• What is emphasized in sociological realism regarding societal structures?

  It emphasizes the understanding of society as a whole, rather than as a mere collection of individuals.
• What is a critique of sociological realism?

  It may overlook the agency of individuals and their ability to shape social structures.
• What did Durkheim emphasize regarding social facts?

  Durkheim emphasized the objective existence of social facts and their influence on individual behavior.
• How did Durkheim use suicide in his argument?

  He used suicide as a case study to demonstrate the influence of social facts on individual behavior.
• What influences individual behavior according to Durkheim?

  The level of social solidarity and regulation within a society influences individual behavior and the likelihood of suicide.
• What is anomie?

  Anomie is a state of normlessness that can occur when social regulation is weak or absent.
• What is the objective existence of social institutions?

  Social institutions, like family, have an objective reality that constrains individual behavior.
• What is social reproduction and why is it important?

  • Social reproduction refers to how societies manage to persist.
  • It is essential for a society to support its own existence.
• Who coined the term "reproduction" in the context of social persistence?

  French philosopher Louis Althusser.
• What institutions are required for social reproduction?

  • Creation of institutions that perpetuate society's existence.
  • Essential for the reproduction of social life.
• What are the two types of institutions for social reproduction?

  1. Ideological State Apparatuses (ISAs):

  • Shape beliefs, values, and ideologies.
  • Examples: schools, churches, media.

  1. Repressive State Apparatuses (RSAs):

  • Maintain social order through force or threat.
  • Examples: police, military, prisons.
• What are Talcott Parsons' four prerequisites for social reproduction?

  Adaptation, Goal Attainment, Integration, and Latency.
• What does adaptation refer to in Parsons' prerequisites?

  Societies must adapt to their environment.
• What does goal attainment refer to in Parsons' prerequisites?

  Societies must set and achieve goals.
• What does integration refer to in Parsons' prerequisites?

  Societies must maintain social order.
• What does latency refer to in Parsons' prerequisites?

  Societies must preserve values and beliefs.