Social Thinkers
Social Thinkers
Social Thinkers
Social Thinkers
(BA Part-III))
Published by :
Think Tanks
Biyani Group of Colleges
Edition : 2011
While every effort is taken to avoid errors or omissions in this Publication, any
mistake or omission that may have crept in is not intentional. It may be taken note of
that neither the publisher nor the author will be responsible for any damage or loss of
any kind arising to anyone in any manner on account of such errors and omissions.
Preface
I am glad to present this book, especially designed to serve the needs of the students. The
book has been written keeping in mind the general weakness in understanding the
fundamental concept of the topic. The book is self-explanatory and adopts the Teach
Yourself style. It is based on question-answer pattern. The language of book is quite easy and
understandable based on scientific approach.
In this book I have tried to cover all the topics of introduction to Sociology like society, social
structure, family, social status.
Any further improvement in the contents of the book by making corrections, omission and
inclusion is keen to be achieved based on suggestions from the reader for which the author shall be
obliged.
I acknowledge special thanks to Mr. Rajeev Biyani, Chairman & Dr. Sanjay Biyani, Director
(Acad.) Biyani Group of Colleges, who is the backbone and main concept provider and also have been
constant source of motivation throughout this endeavour. We also extend our thanks to M/s. Biyani
Shikshan Samiti, Jaipur, who played an active role in co-ordinating the various stages of this
endeavour and spearheaded the publishing work.
I look forward to receiving valuable suggestions from professors of various educational
institutions, other faculty members and the students for improvement of the quality of the book. The
reader may feel free to send in their comments and suggestions to the under mentioned address.
Author
Syllabus
Paper-I : SOCIAL THINKERS
Section-A
Section-B
Section-C
Chapter 1
Max Weber
Webers view of bureaucracy must be seen in the context of his general theory of social
action. He argued that all human action is directed by meanings. Thus, in order to
understand and explain action, the meanings and motives which lie behind it must be
appreciated.
Weber identified various types of action which are distinguished by the meaning on which
they are based. These include affective or emotional action, traditional action and
rational action.
Affective action stems from an individuals emotional state at a particular time. Loss of
temper which results in verbal abuse is based on established custom. An individual acts in
a certain way because of ingrained habit, because things have been done that way. He has
no real awareness of why he does something; his actions are simply second nature. By
comparison, rational action involves a clear awareness of a goal. It is the action of a
manager who wishes to increase productivity, of a builder contracted to erect a block of
flats. In both cases the goal is clearly defined.
Weber believed that rational action had become the dominant mode of action in modern
industrial society. He saw it expressed in a wide variety of areas; in state administration,
business, education, science and even in western classical music. He referred to the
increasing dominance of rational action as the process of rationalization.
Bureaucratization is the prime example of this process. A bureaucratic organization has a
clearly defined goal. It involves precise calculation of the means to attain this goal and
systematically eliminates those factors which stand in the way of the achievement of its
objectives. Bureaucracy is therefore rational action in an intuitional form.
Weber identified three forms of legitimacy which derive from three types of social action.
Affective, traditional and rational action each provides a particular motive for obedience,
a motive based respectively on emotion, custom and rationality. These types a legitimate
control are charismatic authority, traditional authority and rational legal authority. Each
results in particular forms of organizational structure. Weber constructed models to
represent each of authority. They are known as ideal types and representspure forms
which is not expected to exist in historical reality. In practice types of authority, they are
closer to one ideal type than to others.
Traditional authority rests on a belief in the rightness and established customs and
traditions. Those in authority command obedience on the basis of their traditional status
which is usually inherited. Their subordinates are directed by feelings of loyalty and
obligations are directed by feelings of loyalty and obligation to long established positions
of power. The feudal system of medieval Europe provides an example of traditional
authority. Kings and nobles owned their position to inherited status and the personal
loyalty of their subjects.
Secondly, The organization of offices follows the principles of hierarchy; that is every
office is under the control and supervision of higher one. A chain of command and
responsibility is established whereby every officials is accountable to his immediate
superior both for the conduct of his own official duties and those of everybody below him.
Fourthly, the ideal official performs his duties in a spirit of formalistic impersonality.
Without hatred or passion. The activities of the bureaucrat are governed by personal
considerations such as his feelings toward colleagues or clients. His actions are therefore
rational rather than personal.
Fifthly, officials are appointed on the basis of technical knowledge and expertise. Weber
states that, Bureaucratic administration means fundamentally the exercise of control on
the basis of knowledge. This is the feature of it which makes it specifically rational. Thus
officials are selected in terms of the contribution their particular knowledge and skills can
make to the realization of organizational goals. Once appointed, the official is full-time
paid employee and his occupation constitutes a career.
Q.6. What are the two dangers on control of state bureaucratic administration?
Ans.
1. In times of crisis, bureaucratic leadership would be ineffective. Bureaucrats are trained to
follow orders and conduct routine operations rather than to make policy decisions and take
initiatives in response to crisis.
2. In capitalist society, top bureaucrats may be swayed by the pressure of capitalist interest
and tailor their administrative practices to fit the demand of capital.
Q.7. What are the ways through which the dangers of state bureaucratic administration can
be reduced?
Ans.
Weber believed that state bureaucratic administration can be avoided by strong parliamentary
control of the state bureaucracy.
1. In particular, professional politicians must hold the top positions in the various
departments of state. This will encourage strong and effective leadership since politicians
are trained to take decisions.
2. It will help to open the bureaucracy to public view and reveal any behind the scenes
wheeling and dealing between the bureaucrats and powerful interests. Politicians are
public figures, open to public scrutiny and the criticism of opposition parties. They are
therefore accountable for their actions.
Q.8. Is it possible for government bureaucracy to exercise considerable control over its
political masters?
Ans.
Yes, it is possible for government bureaucracy to exercise considerable control over
political masters. This was given by M. Lipset in his study of socialist government in
Canadian province of Saskatchewan.
10. A clear distinction between sphere of office and private affair of the individuals.
11. The practice of performing specialized administration function.
rules and regulation. The minutest thing is to be written down in an official way and
proper procedure is followed.
2. Red Tapism: Bureaucracy is characterized by red tapism. Red tapism is also related with
circum location. Red Tapism means blind following of formal rules and regulations
through prescribed rules is not it self bad but the blind attachment to them certainly
impairs the efficiency of work because the case is not decided on the merit but an old and
out dated records.
3. Formalism: Another great defect of bureaucracy is its excessive adherence to formalism
too much use of forms and formalities makes the officials lose his sense of judgment and
initiative.
4. Unresponsiveness: Bureaucracy is not usually responsive to the needs of the people. It
considers it self as the self appointed guardian and interpreted of public interest. The
bureaucrats think themselves as a separate and superior class to all other people whom
they are destined to govern.
5. Empire building: Bureaucrats perpetuates the evils of dividing the work of government
into many isolated and self dependent sections, each pursuing its own ends. These units
develop the tendency of being independent units.
6. Yes menship: The top bureaucrats who are political favorites become perfect yesman of
their political bosses. They in turn expect yes menship from their subordinate officers.
Thus a vicious circle is build up and whether right or wrong it is their thinking that the
boss must be supported.
7. Officiousness and traility: Each man loves his own belief moments of authority. A
public servants attempts to make his public office yield private gains or uses his power to
confer unfair advantage on some special group.
Q.16. According to Max weber, how many types of authority are there?
Ans.
1. Traditional authority
2. charismatic authority
3. Rational legal authority
understand its rational features and rationalizing forces individuals rely more on logic,
reason, calculation other beliefs, norms and customs.
Rationalization comes by scientific special technological differentiation. Through
rationalization they strive for perfection, refinement and mastery on external world. It
establishes itself through rational organization and institution rationalization also exists in
human values, beliefs and actions.
Q. 19. How many types of actions are there according to Max Weber?
Ans.
In the field of sociology, Webers point of departure is the distinction between four types
of actions, which are as follows:
Zweck rational action
Wert rational action
Affective action
Traditional action
Zweck rational action: This is a rational action which is performed in relation to a goal. It
corresponds to Paretoss logical action. For example, action of the engineer, who is
building a bridge or army general who wants to win a war. In such actions an actor clearly
knows his goals and selects specific means to attain these goals. However, Weber defines
rationality in terms of knowledge of the actor.
Wert rational action: This type of action is also rational action but in relation to values.
For example, a brave captain goes down with his sinking ship. His action is rational not
because of his bad behaviour. In this case, the action is not oriented to a goal or a system of
value. In this case, the action is not oriented to a goal or a system of value, rather it is
determined by an emotional reaction of the actor in a given set of circumstances.
Affective action: This type of action is emotional and is dictated primarily by the state of
mind of the actor, for example, the slap which the mother gives her child because of his
bad behaviour. In this
Traditional action: This type of action is dictated by belief and customs which becomes
habitual. In this case, the individual performs the action according to the custom or
traditional which have becomes a part of his personality because of conditioning.
Q.16. ________ is power that is exercised with the consent of the ruled.
a. Authority
b. Power
c. Rationality
d. Bureaucracy
Q.17. Monarchial System is _____________ type of authority.
a. Rational-legal authority
b. Traditional authority
c. Charismatic authority
d. None of the above
Q.18. Rules can be ignored, leading to inefficiency is dysfunction of:-
a. Authority
b. Power
c. Rationality
d. Bureaucracy
Q.19. Increasing bureaucratization threatens an:
a. Simplicity
b. iron cage
c. Rationalization
d. Authority
Part B:
1. a 2. b 3. d 4. c 5. b 6. b 7. a 8. a 9.a 10. b
11. c 12. d 13. a 14. d 15. b 16. a 17. b 18.d 19.b
Part B
1. d 2. b 3. b 4. b 5. a 6. c 7. a 8. d 9. d 10. d
Chapter 2
Karl Marx
produced goods increased. Cities developed. From the sphere of influence of these feudal
lords and masters gradually developed states based on the modern nation. The use of metal
was introduced in the agrarian economic system based on land. These metals were:
a. Copper
b. Silver
c. Gold
d. Iron
Wood and iron helped develop chariots and bullock-carts with wheels. The power of
harnessing animals such as ox, horse, buffalo and camel began to be used for agriculture,
transport and trade. Elephants too were used in many parts of the world. The use of animals
for transport and production saved human labour. With the development of division of labour
in societies various classes emerged such as feudal lords, peasants, craftsmen, agriculture
workers or slaves. Along with the development of vast area of cultivation, surplus production,
handicrafts, and expansion of political power, the economy of commercial land developed in
pre-industrial cities.
Both the primitive and the agrarian economies were dependent on geographical
environment and whether coordination. The exchange of commodities and services in these
communities was conducted in accordance with mores and customs. Language, script,
organized religion and permanent settlements were developed in the agrarian system. The
capacity to build big buildings and castles also developed. Thus in the agrarian system of
economy, boats made it simple to cross the seas and the system of trade with far off countries
developed. One more achievement of economic activity in this period was the use of token
currency for exchange.
The use of mechanical power in place of human and animal power was at the basis of the
industrial revolution. With the advent of the industrial revolution huge machines functioned
with steam generated by coal. About a century later steam was replaced by electricity. The
increasing use of machines caused such vast changes in production, transport and the system
of distribution that this process has been named industrial revolution. The industrial
revolution created the modern economy and the system of production, organization and
human relationships connected with it.
According to Marx, the industrial capitalist system started developed in England in the mid-
eighteenth century due to the exploitation of the colonies, new transport facilities,
development of industry and commerce and inner contradiction of the feudal system. After
that, there was no end to the process of industrial development because of the loot of the
world market and the colonial exploitation.
This is called the capitalist system as it based on capital and the spirit of profit. Max Weber
holds exactly the opposition view. According to him, the industrial order and the capitalist
system are based on prudence, saving tendency, competition, hard work, value of time, and
the spirit of duty. The basis of the capitalist spirit is the morality of Protestantism which
teaches its adherents the moral aspect of the sense of duty, value of time, and saving. Weber
supports his argument by saying that industrialization and capitalism began in Protestant
countries. The vast changes that took place in technology, energy, and system of production
after the industrial revolution gave birth to modern economic system.
The modern industrial system has given birth to companies, corporations, share-markets,
multinational companies, banks and the unions of industrialists and workers. Sociologists call
these huge economic groups as formal organizations. These economic organizations are based on
rules, system of impersonal relationships and the spirits of serving economic interests. These
economic organizations have the following characteristics:
1) Membership of these is based on definite rules. The functionaries are elected regularly.
2) Their size and the number of their members is sometimes so big that individual and
direct contact among them is not possible.
3) These organizations are formed deliberately with a view to achieve definite aims of
production, distribution or exchange.
4) Owing to huge size and definite goals, the mutual relationships among the members is
based on formal and legal rules instead of emotion and feeling.
5) The contact among the members is established after definite periods of time though
meetings, papers and new papers.
3. The economic structure of the society is constructed by the relation upon whom the
legal and political superstructures are based.
4. The mode of production of a society determines the character of the social, political
and spiritual process of life.
5. The forces of production and relations of production always are under conflict with
each other.
6. When there is a change in the economic function the entire super structre is
transformed.
Q.7. what are the four stages of human history according to Karl Marx.
Ans.
The four stages of human history based of social relation relationship, and absence of private
property and class.
of production, and the people belonging to same class has same enemy, due to number of factors
class has originated in a society.
1. The expansion of production forces beyond the need for subsistence.
2. The extension of division of labour out side the family.
3. The accumulation of surplus.
Different classes have existed through out the history namely, slaves, master, serfs, land lords etc.
he rejected the income, occupation and other reasons as the reason for development of class. The
class is a analytical and dynamic category, the classes are the result of a particular mode of
production eg. In the capitalism mode of production, one group owns the means of production
and other does not. Thus this leads to the formation of two different classes in the society ie of
owners and non-owners and there is a antagonistic relation between them which leads to the
evolution of class struggle is an essential feature of any society and cannot be avoided. He tried to
relate the origin of class consciousness which brings about the unity of the class and formation of
class in itself. They are the objective conditions like the same economic conditions for a group in
the system of production and forms the class for it self. It is the subjective awareness of ones class
position which is also the collective action. Thus the class in it self becomes for class for it self.
Related to these concepts they gave:
1. Pauperization: It is the process by which the poor becomes poorer and rich becomes
richer as the forces of production develops ie the proletarians will become more richer.
2. Embourgeoisement: It is process according to Marx in which increasing number
manual workers enter in the middle strata of the society to become the middle class.
The pyramid has become large at the bottom and small at the top, with this type increase,
the stratification, system will change into a diamond or pentagon.
3. Alienation: The process of alienation is common among the class society due to the
existence of private property and division of labour, the labour feels alienation in a class
divided society and alienation is a common feature of the industrial society and the roots
of alienation is found, there is estrangement from certain aspects of his social existence.
There is alienated labour, he has given 4 aspects of alienated labour:
a. The workers is alienated from the process of production.
b. Alienation from self
c. Alienated from his people, alienation reaches high in the capitalist society where
the labour is dominated by the requirement of capital. The more there is
production of high quality goods, the more alienation will take place and the
worker sees himself as prisoner of the market forces over which he has no
control. Marx sees two important characteristics of industrial society as leading
to alienation of workforce.
i. The mechanization of production.
ii. Division of labour
4. False Class-consciousness: It is the consciousness of a class or group of individuals
who unable to recognize, their class position. The ruling class is so dominant that they
do not challenge the exploitative class and when the subjective awareness comes toe
class gives rise to real class consciousness.
Ans.
The concept of alienation has become very popular in modern literature, political
philosophy existentialist philosophy, psycho analysis, psychology and sociology. In the
writings of Marx, alienation is a principle term, and hence it has dominated the history of
sociological thought.
Alienation refers to the sense of powerlessness, isolation and meaninglessness
experience by human beings when they are confronted with social institutions and
conditions that they cannot control and consider oppressive.
According to Marx, alienation results from the lack of sense of control over the social world.
People forget that society and social institutions are constructed by human beings and can,
therefore, be changed by human beings. The social world thus environs people as a hostile
thing leaving them alien in the very environment that they have created.
Marx took more interest in analyzing the process of alienation in capitalist society. Because
of his close association with Engeles, Marx became personally aware of the anguish and
alienation of urban industrial workers.
3. Growth of class consciousness in the sense that the members of the class have a feeling of
solidarity and understanding of their historic role
4. Profound dissatisfaction of the lower class over its inability to control the economic
structure of which it feels itself to be exploited victim
5. Establishment of political organization resulting from the economic structure the historical
situation and maturation of class consciousness.
According to Marxain viewpoint, from the beginning of human existence in community,
society has been divided into classes because of its absolute dependence on the division of
labour. The following classic statement of Marxs clearly states his views on classes and class
struggles. The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles. Free men
and slave, patrician and plebian, lord and serf, guild master and journeymen, in a word
oppressor and oppressed, stood in constant opposition to one another, carried on an
uninterrupted, now hidden, now open fight, a fight that each time ended either in a
revolutionary reconstitution of society at large or in the common ruin of the contending
classes.
Marx was not only interested in the origin of class, he was even more interested in the future
of class, especially as that future relates to the emergence of class consciousness, awareness
of shared interest and the necessity of mutual support to other struggling classes against the
ruling class. Marx made a distinction between class in itself and class for itself. This
distinction is reflected in the movement from clsses potential self awareness to actual self
awareness. Only when the common struggle as a point of consciousness appears within a
class does that class actually emerge as a potential power force.
According to Marxain viewpoint, social class was bigger than the individual and the
individual was dominated by it. In the words of Marx, here individuals are dealt with only in
so far as they are personifications of economic categories, embodiments of particular class
relations and class interests. To deal with the predicament of the modern man, alienated,
dominated and estranged from himself, his neighbour and his world, the analyst must not
begin with the individual but the social structures within which the individual is essentially
caught up and lost as a person.
Marxian interpretation of reality that views matter as the sole subject of change and all change as
the product of a constant conflict between opposites arising from the internal contradictions
inherent in all events, ideas, and movements.
change. The process of improvement and downfall and the development in the
external world and the world of matter.
5. Historical materialism and the theory of conflict- Various thinkers have
interpreted human history in various ways. Marx has disagreed with the
interpretation of the history as a story of the deeds of great men or the story of
certain events. He has interpreted history on the basis of historical materialism.
According to this theory socio economic institution change according to times and
according to these changes certain new developments take place. According to
this theory, people did not work as an individual but group and classes. Persons
belonging to one class have common economic interest and common means of
livelihood. For example in Feudal Society, the farmers grow crop and Feudal
lords exploit the Capitalist and the Workers. The history develops as a result of
synthesis between thesis and anti-thesis which is nothing but another result of the
struggle between various classes. He has, further, said that the ideas and the
thoughts are born as a result of the material things and the scientific and technical
development do influence the means of production and which has an effect on the
society. In fact, Karl Marx has given most important place of materialism or the
material world. According to him the whole history is a story of struggle between
material forces. This has an effect on the development of history. This whole
world of studying and interpretation of history is known as Historical
Materialism or interpretation of history according to material laws or the laws of
the material world.
Part-A
Part-B
c. both a and b
d. none of the above
16. The concept of Historical Materialism was established in
a. The German Ideology
b. The Hegal Ideology
c. The Engels Ideology
d. The French Ideology
17. ________ according to Marx, is a condition in which humans become dominated by the
forces of their own creation
a. Surplus class
b. Surplus value
c. Alienation
d. None of the above
Part A:
1. a 2. a 3. d 4. d 5. c 6. a 7. a 8. c 9. a 10. a
Part-B
Chapter 3
Emile Durkheim
laws of theology and the division of labour. According to Durkheim the following facts
are important for the study of sociology:
1. Division of labour
2. Social solidarity
3. law
4. morality
5. religion
6. suicide
7. education
8. occupational and professional groups and their conduct
9. Economic organization.
In mechanical solidarity man is directly related to society. All members of the society
have similar beliefs and emotions. In this society the feelings of association are very
strong. Society with organic solidarity is not like a machine. It is a social fact. It is a
system of different and specific functions. Relations of this system unite the members of
this society. The society based on two types of solidarity shows the situations of one
society. For the convenience of analysis we classify it into these two parts. In the
societies, based on mechanical solidarity, the group consciousness is very strong. All the
members are similar. Considering the relations of mechanical solidarity and division of
labour, Durkheim emphasizes the following points:
1. Differentiation in the society based on mechanical solidarity is at an elementary
stage. It is mainly based on sex and age.
2. It has a simple division of functions
3. All the members are alike
4. The members have a very keen sense of collective consciousness and obedience.
5. It has repressive laws.
The society based on mechanical solidarity, collective consciousness and repressive laws
gradually changes into a society of organic solidarity as the density of population grows.
The society of organic solidarity has the following characteristics:
1. Complex process of differentiation.
2. Increase in the interdependence among individuals and various parts of society.
3. Increase in division of labour and development of various trades and parts of
society.
4. In spite of the increase in subjective feeling, the feeling of mutuality and
interdependence grows.
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Social Thinkers 37
Q.6. How Durkheim saw fundamental difference between pre-industrial and industrial
society?
Ans.
Emile Durkheim was optismistic about the division of labour in society. Durkheim saw a
number of problems arising from specialization in industrial society but believed the
promise of the division of labour outweighed the problems.
activity should be permeated by ideas and needs other than individual ideas and needs.
He sees occupational associations as the means to subject economic activity to moral
regulation. Various industries should be governed by freely elected administrative bodies
on which all occupations in the industry are represented. Such associations would solve
the problems of anomie in two ways
Firstly, they would counter individualism by reintegrating individuals into social group
which would re-establish social controls.
Organic Solidarity:
1. Individual are no longer similar but different.
2. Similar moral values disappear.
3. The group is characterized by specialization, division of labour and individualism.
4. There is weakening of restutive laws.
5. With the growth of social groups there is emergence of complex facts like increased
population, urbanization, industrialization, interdependent society.
6. There is increase in mental and moral aptitude and capabilities.
7. There is decrease in collective conscience.
Ans.
Primitive societies
o Laws are harsh, intense, rigid, and universally shared.
o Law is repressive and the deviant is severely punished
Modern societies
o Laws are less harsh, less punitive, less intensely felt, and less shared.
o Punishment is enforced by issuing fines.
Agents of socialization of norms/moral facts
o Institutions teach norms
Family
Religion
Occupation
The more division in labor, the more individualism becomes the moral compass of
modern society
Q.14. What should be the methodology to study the sociology as stated by Emile Durkheim?
Ans.
Sociology grew from philosophy and must separate itself and become a science
Social Phenomenon should be studied empirically using the scientific method
Religion is highly social and serves as a bonding function and identification for the
individuals within a society
Religion provides for:
o Meaning in life
o Authority figures
o Reinforces the morals and social norms
Emile Durkheim
Part-A
a. Primitive societies
b. Modern societies
c. Mechanical solidarity
d. Organic solidarity
8. Laws are less harsh, less punitive, less intensely felt, and less shared in
a. Primitive societies
b. Modern societies
c. Mechanical solidarity
d. Organic solidarity
9. Social Phenomenon should be studied empirically using the scientific method. This
definition of sociology was given by:
a. Karl Marx
b. Max Weber
c. Emile Durkheim
d. Auguste Comte
10. Low degree of integration is found in ____________type of suicide:
a. Egoistic
b. Altruistic
c. Anomic
d. Fatalistic
11. High degree of integration is found in ____________type of suicide:
a. Egoistic
b. Altruistic
c. Anomic
d. Fatalistic
12. Social facts are _______to the individual
a. External
b. Constraint
c. Internal
d. None of the above
13. According to Emile Durkheim Sociology is the ________ of society :
a. Natural science
b. Real science
c. Positive science
d. None of the above
14. Book The Rules of Sociological Methods was written by:
a. Karl Marx
b. Max Weber
c. Emile Durkheim
d. Auguste Comte
15. Book The Rules of Sociological Methods was written in year:
a. 1895
b. 1896
c. 1999
d. 1889
16. Book Suicide was written by
a. Karl Marx
b. Max Weber
c. Emile Durkheim
d. Auguste Comte
Part B:
c. Emile Durkheim
d. Auguste Comte
8. Durkheims examples of social facts are
a. Laws
b. Morals
c. Beliefs
d. All of the above
9. The totality of beliefs and sentiments common to average citizens of the same society forms a
determinate system which has its own life is called:
a. Morality
b. Collective conscience
c. Social facts
d. Suicide
10. Social structure of society involves the assessment of the following:
a. Nature
b. Number
c. Arrangement
d. All of the above
Part A:
1. b 2. a 3. a 4. b 5. a 6. a 7. a 8. b 9. c 10. a
11. b 12. a 13. a 14. c 15.a 16. c
Part B
1. b 2. c 3. b 4d 5. b 6. a 7. c 8. d 9. b 10. d
Chapter 4
D.P. Mukherjee
In keeping with this view, he believed that sociologists should learn and be familiar with
both high and low languages and cultures not only Sanskrit, Persian or Arabic, but
also local dialects.
Q.4. What are the three principles of change social change according to D.P. Mukherjee?
Ans.
D.P. believed that there were three principles of change recognized in Indian traditions,
namely; shruti, smriti and anubhava. Of these, the last anubhava or personal
experience is the revolutionary principle. However, in the Indian context personal
experience soon flowered into collective experience. This meant that the most important
principle of change in Indian society was generalised anubhava, or the collective
experience of groups. The high traditions were centered in smriti and sruti, but they were
periodically challenged by the collective experience of groups and sects, as for example in
the bhakti movement. D.P. emphasized that this was true not only of Hindu but also of
Muslim culture in India. In Indian Islam, the Sufis have stressed love and experience
rather than holy texts, and have been important in bringing about change. Thus, for D.P.,
the Indian context is not one where is cursive reason (buddhi-vichar) is the dominant force
for change; anubhava and prem (experience and love) have been historically superior as
agents of change. Conflict and rebellion in the Indian context have tended to work through
collective experiences. But the resilience of tradition ensures that the pressure of conflict
produces change in the tradition without breaking it.
D.P.Mukherjee
Part-A
Part A:
1. a 2. c 3. d 4. a 5. a 6. a 7. c 8. d 9. c
Key Terms
1. Altruistic suicide: Form of self-sacrificing behavior that occurs as a result of over conformity with
group rules and over identification with the collective whole. Most prevalent in simpler societies.
2. Anomic suicide: self-destructive behavior arising in a social setting that lacks sufficient socio-
moral rules to constrain actors by integrating them into the collective whole. Most prevalent in
the period of transition to modern society.
3. Anomie: State of social brought on by the lack of, or insufficiency of, social and moral rules
regulating activity between persons and groups.
4. Collective representations: Shared beliefs, values, norms, ways of thinking, and ways of feeling
that characterize a particular social group or society.
5. Externality: that which is characterized by having an existence independent of the will of a
particular persons or an aggregate of persons.
6. Functions: Contribution made by the individual or group to maintenance of another group or the
whole society.
7. Repressive law: Laws involving punishment or destruction of violator of social rules.
8. Repressive law: Laws involving an obligation or the violator of social rules to establish the
situation as it was before the violation occurred, in order to compensate the victim of violation.
9. Sui-Generis reality: Latin term expressing a conception that something is a reality in and of itself
and cannot be reduced to its subparts or component without loss or destruction of its most
central and fundamental characteristics.
10. Mechanical solidarity: Forms of social organization in simple societies based on similarity or
likeness of persons in terms of their conceptualization of reality and orientation toward the
collective whole.
11. Organic Solidarity: Forms of social organization in more complex societies based on occupational
specialization and functional differentiation of social parts.
12. Alienation: The experience of part of oneself as alien. For Marx, the experience of oneself as
alien and mechanical in the process of labor.
13. Bourgeois Individualism: The illusion commonplace in societies where commodity production
and exchange prevail that the individual can be a self-contained, self-directing entity.
14. Class: A group of people who have in common a specific relation to the means of production.
15. Commodity: A world order that requires high-level technology, production for human use only,
and the elimination of all forms of class exploitation.
16. Commodity: Something with exchange value-that is something that can be brought and sold.
17. Communism: A world order that requires high-level technology, production for human use only,
and the elimination of all forms of class exploitation.
18. Dialectical Materialism: An epistemology that explain social change and human consciousness in
terms of underlying changes in the mode of production.
19. Idealism: Doctrine that states that reality consists of mental elements alone- for example, ideas,
beliefs, mind, spirit and so forth.
20. Lumpen-proletariat: Class of people without steady employment- for example, petty criminals
and the permanently employed.
21. Means of Production: A sub-category of production forces- for example, the tools and machines
associated with production.
22. Monopoly: The production and distribution of one or several commodities by just one company
or business.
23. Objectification: The process whereby human make themselves an object to themselves and for
others.
24. Oligopoly: The production and distribution of one or several commodities by just a few
companies or businesses.
25. Socialism: The public ownership and control of the means of production.
26. Surplus value: Value created for the boss by workers during the working day after they have
produced enough for sale on the marked to cover their own wages and the constant capital costs
associated with their being able to work.
27. Petit Bourgeoise: Class of small business people-for example shop owners.
28. Productive forces: These enable humans to act on the material world in order to transform it.
29. Variable capital costs: The costs of paying the wages of the workforce.
30. Utopian Socialism: Socialism that exists in the minds of political idealists but could not exist the
wages of the workforce.
31. Affective Action: Emotional and impulsive action that is an end in itself.
32. Authority: The ability of one individual to command another effectively.
33. Charisma: An individuals ability to exercise domination on the basis of personal and super-
human or supernatural qualities.
34. Cultural object: Something that is created through social interaction and is external but
meaningful, for individual-for example, a social institution, a baseball game, an organization, or a
symphony concert.
35. Domination: The probability that an order will be obeyed.
36. Historicism: The doctrine that states that societies and cultures can be understood only as
historically unique entities.
37. Ideographic understanding: The kind of understanding that treats each element of social reality
as a unique and as qualitatively different from other aspects of social reality.
38. Legitimate authority: Authority that is accepted as right and proper according to certain cultural
prescription.
39. Motive: The interpretation that is made of social action in order to make it meaningful.
40. Protestant ethic: An ascetic orientation that encourage hard work, thrift, and righteous forms of
goddess.
11-Durkheim 1894-1962
12-Karl Marx 1889-1968
13 Max Waber 1858-1917
14-Radha Kamal Mukharjee 1864-1920
15-DP Mukharjee 1818-1883
Name the authors of the following books :-
16. Problems of Indian Youth
17.Man and his Habitation
18.The Holy Family
19.The City
20.The Elementary Forms of Religious Life.
21.What are the three diamensions of values given by Radha Kamal Mukharjee?
22.Mention the types of dialectics of traditions.
23.Differentiate between Interinsic Values and Instrumental Values.
24.Mention the forms of alienation
25.Comparison of Marx's and Hegel's Dialecticism.
26.Give four dysfunctional aspects of Bureaucracy
27.Give Weber's classification of Social Action.
28.Give any two examples of anomic suicide.
29.Differentiate between General Social Fact and Pathological Social Fact.
30.Define Collective representation.
PART-II (DESCRIPTIVE )
Maximum marks: 60
Attempt three questions,selecting one question from each Section .All questions carry equal marks.
SECTION-A
1- Discuss this statement of Durkheim 'Sociology is the Study of Social Fcts'.
2- Critically examine bureaucracy as the most complex and highly developed type of formal
organization.
SECTION-B
3- Explain this argument of Marx 'The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of
class struggles'.
4- Write short notes on the following :
(a)Class-in-itself and Class-for -itself
(b) Alienation
SECTION-C
5- Write short notes on the following :-
(a)value and personality
(b)vaule and disvalues
6- Give logic in support of D.P.Mukherji's views that 'the Central Point of study of Indian
Sociology is the study of traditions.
22. Give any two differences between mechanical and organic solidarity.
23. What is the meaning of Tradition as given by Dr D.P. Mukharjee
24. Give any four characteristics of bureaucracy.
25. What is the meaning of Tradition as given by Dr D .P Mukharjee
26. Given any four characteristics of bureaucracy.
27. What is Social Fact?
28. Give two criticisms of Marxian Theory of Dialectical Materialism.
29. What is meant by Value Oriented Rational Action according to Max Weber.?
30. Define Social Action.
Indicate the salient features of Bureaucracy and discuss the dysfunction of Bureaucracy.
(Section-B)
Discuss Marxian theory of Class Conflict.
Critically evaluate the views of Karl Marx on Dialectical Materialism.
(Section-C)
What do you understand by Hierarchy of values? Examine the important of social values.
6- Max Weber has propounded his theory of social action in which one of this books :
(a) The theory of Social and Economi Organization
(b) Sociology of Religion
(c) Essay in Sociology
(d) The city ( )
7- Durkheim has given the rules of observing the socialk facts in which one of this books-
( a) Rule of Sociological Methods
(b ) Division of Labour in Society
( c) Elementary Forms of Religious life
( d) Lee Suicide ( )
Bibliography