The course aims to enable students to acquire a basic knowledge, with reference  to general theories in the sociological and sociological-legal thought and the social and cultural context in which they emerge and develop.   On the basis of the knowledge acquired, students will develop analytical skills in relation to the theoretical and epistemological content of sociological and sociological-legal thought of the past and present.                                                                                                                                                                                    The acquisition of such knowledge within the first year will enable students of the B.A. course in Sociology and Social Service to continue their studies in tsuccessive years with the necessary basic knowledge of the historical and theoretical foundations of sociological studies (special sociologies) and of the social policies enacted since the nineteenth century to the present day. They will also verify their cultural interests  to better define their preferences in view of the choice of the topic of their dissertation and of M.A. programme .

The course presents a historical profile of sociological thought from precursors up to contemporary times. In its development special attention will be accorded to the social and cultural context in which emerges and develops modern sociological thought , understood as an expression of social modernization and secularization, and at the same time as an active component of these changes. In dealing with different authors, especially "classics", a special attention will be devoted to the theme of modernity and the way in which sociological reflection originated and developed in relation to the understanding of the specifics of what is "modern" versus what is described as "traditional." The first part will present the origins of sociology, paying particular attention to the "classics", up to and including the development of sociological theories in the years around 1950. Particular attention will be given to contributions made by the sociologists of the late '800 and the first half of the '900 to the sociological study of the law and the state. The second part will deal with authors and currents of thought active in the following years, until today.

 Course topics: The historical background, political and economic of the first social sciences in the eighteenth century: ideas about progress and science. political and social philosophy economics. Culture and society in Europe 1815-1850. Socialism, democracy, liberalism, conservatism. The origins of sociological thought. Bentham and Savigny: two perspectives on society and law. The birth of sociology of positivism and romanticism. Saint-Simon and the saintsimoniani. Auguste Comte. sociological theory and the laws of society. Rights and duties: the establishment of the company. Alexis de Tocqueville. Modernity as a democracy. The case of the American and French. Democracy in America: historical, institutional and sociological aspects. Religion and community. The ancient regime and the revolution. Interpretations of modernity. The conflittualistica perspective. Karl Marx. social conflict and class struggle. The materialist conception of history. Marx's contribution to the social sciences. Herbert Spencer: Sociology, Positivism and evolution. The evolution as a principle of development. Military society and industrial society. Evolution and conflict: Social Darwinism. The historical context of the classics of sociology. France and Germany between the end of '800 and early' 900: politics, society, culture. Ludwig Gumplowicz. Ferdinand Tönnies: community and society. Emile Durkheim. The division of social labor. Rules and sanctions, law and society. The notion of anomie and the study of suicide. A remedy to social disorganization: the corporations. Conception of sociology and sociological method. A sociologist Durkheim-lawyer: Léon Duguit. Vilfredo Pareto. Sociology and political science: the theory of elites. Sort actions: act logical / illogical. Truth and utility of the theory The task of sociology. Max Weber. ideal types, social action and rationality. The method. The comprehensive sociology. A social action sociology. The sociology of power, bureaucracy and administration. The rationalization process. The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. The right. Georg Simmel. A sociology of forms. Content and object of sociology. The experience of modernity. The money and the metropolis. The study of social types: the stranger and the poor. Simmel and contemporary sociological theories. Sigmund Freud: the birth of psychoanalysis and its relevance to the social sciences. The critical theory of society. The Frankfurt School. cultural industry critical in Horkheimer and Adorno. Marcuse. Karl Mannheim Relativism. The problem of generations. Norbert Elias. The process of sociology. For a historical sociology. The process of civilization. The origins of American sociology. G. H. Mead. The Chicago school. Theorizing and empirical research. Talcott Parsons. The functionalist theory. The general theory of social action. The systems of action. The functional imperatives and the template variables. The evolution of society. Developments of functionalism. Functional analysis of Robert K. Merton. Deviant behavior. Towards the contemporary sociology. The phenomenological sociology. A. Schütz. Social constructionism. E. Goffman. Ethnomethodology. Symbolic interactionism and dell'etichettamento theory. The theories of social action. P. Bourdieu: fields, habitus and practices. J. Habermas. A. Giddens and modernity. The post-modern thought.
 

It is expected that students will acquire:
1. knowledge and understanding: mastery of basic knowledge about the history of sociologica thought in the social context, with particular reference to its constituent elements (problems and methods) in relation with other social sciences
The students will attain these basic knowledge: by participating in lessons and through the analytical study of the texts proposed by the teacher and discussed in the classroom.
2. Applying knowledge and understanding: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the concepts and theories provided by the course; developing new insights, both from a theoretical and empirical point of view.
To be achieved through classroom discussions, interacting with the teacher, reading texts.
3. Capacity of judgment: critical reflection on themes, topics, texts presented.
This capability will mature in the interaction in the classroom, with the teacher and with fellow students, in reading essays, articles, scientific papers.
4. Communication skills: the ability to communicate their knowledge in a clear and correct manner
Outcomes to be achieved by discussions in the classroom, interacting actively during lectures, workshops, seminars, asking and answering questions, and also through written contributions.  
5. Learning Skills: methods of analysis of the problems,  independent judgment. Skills to be acquired primarily discussing with other students and with the teacher the themes of the course. Knowledge of the  study materials will offer a greater capacity for further learning. The teacher in the course will encourage the acquisition of such skills, which will be evaluated during the exam
 

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

through the Moodle platform  will be made available to students numerous materials, consisting both in texts and in significant pictures and photographs to allow them to put in context the social and legal changes that will be covered in the course. 

The teaching material made available by the lecturer can be found, together with other supporting activities, inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Teaching

Frontal lessons. Explanation of the best use of the work materials uploaded by the teacher in the Moodle platform.

Attendance

  contextual study, in all the parts shown, of the course texts and materials provided by the teacher .

The  qualification is obtained through the verification of the attendance to the lessons, for a share of at least 3/4 of the actual hours taught.

Course books

Maggioni G., Percorsi di storia della sociologia : i classici, Liguori, Napoli 2012
-Wallace R. A. - Wolf A., La teoria sociologica contemporanea, Il Mulino, Bologna 2008 (esclusi cap. VII, VIII, IX)
-Calabrò A. R. (a cura di) I caratteri della modernità: parlano i classici. Liguori, Napoli 2004. (esclusa l'introduzione)

A list of alternative texts in the English (or French) language can be provided by the teacher

Assessment

The assessment is done individually on the occasion of regular exams by a committee chaired by the form teacher, by oral examination.

The course is divided into two parts. At the end of the lessons of the first part, students who have fulfilled the compulsory attendance can participate to an intermediate written test . Similarly, they can take part in a second written test on the remainder of the program, to be held at the end of a teaching module.

In the exams, provided according to the official calendar, the outcome for those who have passed the written tests will be certified. In other cases, the student will takean oral exam on the course program (in its entirety, or on one only, if the other has  already  been successfully verified).

Disabilità e DSA

Le studentesse e gli studenti che hanno registrato la certificazione di disabilità o la certificazione di DSA presso l'Ufficio Inclusione e diritto allo studio, possono chiedere di utilizzare le mappe concettuali (per parole chiave) durante la prova di esame.

A tal fine, è necessario inviare le mappe, due settimane prima dell’appello di esame, alla o al docente del corso, che ne verificherà la coerenza con le indicazioni delle linee guida di ateneo e potrà chiederne la modifica.

Teaching

Individual study of the course program in all its parts

Attendance

Not required.

Course books

-Maggioni G., Percorsi di storia della sociologia : i classici, -Liguori, Napoli 2012
-Wallace R. A. - Wolf A., La teoria sociologica contemporanea, Il Mulino, Bologna 2008 
-Calabrò A. R. (a cura di) I caratteri della modernità: parlano i classici. Liguori, Napoli 2004

Assessment

The assessment is done individually on the occasion of regular exams and is done by a committee chaired by the form teacher, by oral examination.

Disabilità e DSA

Le studentesse e gli studenti che hanno registrato la certificazione di disabilità o la certificazione di DSA presso l'Ufficio Inclusione e diritto allo studio, possono chiedere di utilizzare le mappe concettuali (per parole chiave) durante la prova di esame.

A tal fine, è necessario inviare le mappe, due settimane prima dell’appello di esame, alla o al docente del corso, che ne verificherà la coerenza con le indicazioni delle linee guida di ateneo e potrà chiederne la modifica.

The student can request to sit the final exam in English with an alternative bibliography in this language.

L'examen et la bibliographie seront en langue française à la demande de l'étudiant.