Sociology - The Comparative Method - 1739 Words

Sociology The Comparative Method Sociologists have embraced what is known as the comparative method as the most efficient way to expose taken-for-granted truths or laws that people have adopted. But what is this comparative method and how does it work? Are there any advantages/disadvantages to exposing these false truths. What forms or variations of the comparative method exist? In the pages to follow I will attempt to give you some insight and understanding of what the comparative method is, and how it works. The comparative method, simply put, is the process of comparing two things (in our case societies, or the people that make up society) and seeing if the result of the comparison shows a difference between the two. The†¦show more content†¦Rather, she states that men tend to approach moral issues quite differently than women. Where as men view morale issues with a dont interfere with my rights view, women focus more on the responsibility end of the morale involved. Thus we can conclude, thanks to the comparative method, that the constructed truth that all people view morale issues the same is not a correct one. Another quick example of a cross-gender comparison would be that of the house-wife. Still today most men view the role of the married woman as one that involves being a house-wife, in the traditional sense of the term. However, women today certainly would not view themselves in the same manner. The data collected from a comparison such as this could help to dereify this socially constructed truth. Cross-class comparisons is also a comparison commonly used when attempting to expose constructed truths between two classes. i.e. lower-class, upper-class, middle-class. For an example I refer to my lecture notes. Our professor gave us a fine example of a cross-class comparison involving his own life. He was from a middle-class family and attended a public school where he got involved with various kids from the middle and lower class. He grew up in this type of environment and accepted it as the his life as the way society was. To him, there was not another lifestyle. This was life.Show MoreRelatedSociology: the Comparative Method1929 Words   |  8 PagesSociology: The Comparative Method Sociologists have embraced what is known as the comparative method as the most efficient way to expose taken-for-granted truths or laws that people have adopted. But what is this comparative method and how does it work? Are there any advantages/disadvantages to exposing these false truths. What forms or variations of the comparative method exist? In the pages to follow I will attempt to give you some insight and understanding of what the comparative methodRead MorePhilosophy, Phenomenology And Comparative Approachs851 Words   |  4 Pagesindividual aspect. Then there is the sociological approach which looks at group behavior. Then there is also the anthropological approach which is looks at societies, cultures and things of that nature. Lastly there is the philosophy, phenomenology and comparative approachs. The psychological approach to religion allows us to examine the individual. The psychology of religion is to understand the personal religious experience. William James who many deem the father of the psychology of religion field. WilliamRead MoreOur Perceptions Of Society Can Be Divided Into Two Opposing Frames Of Reference924 Words   |  4 Pageswork environment in respect to their individual roles and aspirations. Social imagination contains a comparative nature which gives individuals a sense of meaning and belonging in their lives. This methodology enables researchers to compare sociology with other disciplines of society, such as history. Historians centralize on explaining unique cases that occurred in previous time, while sociology is more focused on the commonalities in history’s events. Although these disciplines have conflictingRead MoreGraduation Speech : Senior Honors Program1321 Words   |  6 PagesSenior Honors Program, because I think it will be an excellent way to complete my experience as a sociology undergraduate student at UC Berkeley. Since transferring to UC Berkeley in the Fall of 2015, many of the courses I have taken have focused on research and its importance to the field of sociology. The continued exposure to the diverse topics of sociological research, as well as the varied methods researchers use to collect their data, has shown me that many of questions I ask about the socialRead MoreAnthropology : A Study Of Humanity1202 Words   |  5 Pagesdata collection can be identified with many other types of social sciences. Sociology and economics also employ the use of observation, interviews, and individual accounts. However, something that sets anthropology aside from these other areas of study is the ready use of the scientific method. Like other scientists, anthropologists use the scientific method to obtain and understand their research. The use of this method helps give scientific validity to anthropological findings while also emphasizingRead MoreSummary of Durkheims Sociological Theory958 Words   |  4 PagesEmile Durkheim is one of the major leaders in the delineation of sociology. Durkheim set out on a mission to define how sociology should be considered and how the method of sociology should be used. Although Durkheim’s writing does touch upon certain moral, political organization, and intellectual issues, overall, D urkheim sets out to provide a theoretical construction for the study of sociology. Durkheim desires to understand societal life through various social constructs. His agenda entailsRead MoreGender Relations Between Rural Areas And The West Of Iran1580 Words   |  7 PagesSummary of the Article   This paper gives a detailed analysis of a peer-reviewed sociology paper to discuss the theme in the paper, giving a summary of the article with research methods and research findings plus relevance of the paper ‘Geographical Perspective on Gender Relations in Rural Areas; a Comparative Study in North and West  of Iran’. The article ‘Geographical Perspective on Gender Relations in Rural Areas; a Comparative Study in North and West of Iran’ featured in the volume 10 issue 2 of theRead MoreComparative Method in Sociological Research2331 Words   |  10 PagesThe Phrase â€Å"comparative method† refers to the method of comparing different societies or groups within the same society to show whether and why they are similar or different in certain respects. Both Montesquieu and Auguste Comte, often regarded as the founders of sociology, used or recommended ‘comparison’ to establish and explain both differences and similarities between societies. The comparative method was for long considered the method par excellence of sociology. According to Andre BeteilleRead MoreEssay about What Makes Sociology Different?856 Words   |  4 Pages Before commencing a discussion on analyzing the article â€Å"What makes sociology a different discipline† from the other sciences we should have the know-how about sociology. In the words of modern thinkers of sociology namely Karl Marx, Max Weber and Emile Durkheim â€Å"Social fact should be the subject matter for the study of social life and can provide explanations for human thinking and behavior (p19)†. What we infer from the above definition is that man is born as a social animal. Man cannot liveRead MoreMy Philosophy Of Teaching Philosophy1145 Words   |  5 Pagesacademia. Through interactive teaching methods such as group work, role play, and joint presentations I seek not only to encourage students to engage with me as an instructor, but also to exchange and discuss ideas with their fellow students. I am a firm believer in the value of interdisciplinary teaching and research. Therefore, I seek to make my students familiar with concepts and research that reac hes beyond political science and is related to law, sociology, and economics, to name just a few examples

africa Essay example - 1208 Words

African Cultures nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Africa has more than 800 languages native to its continent. African cultures are so diverse that they are different from any other culture of the world. African cultures contain many different languages. African languages range from common French to languages unheard of to most people such as Swahili. African arts are much different than American arts. Their art involves much more creative pottery, masks, and paintings. Africa has a very interesting culture. Reasons being the people are very creative and like to express their individuality. The most diverse cultures in the world belong to Africa. There are more than 800 languages spoken in the continent of Africa. Most Africans speak two or†¦show more content†¦It is the national language of Tanzania and the official language of Kenya (African Languages). It is also the official in German East Africa (Reader 265). Approximately 50 million people speak this language (African Languages). nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Art is very important to the Africans. In fact it is part of their everyday life (Fetzer 106). South African artists are active in many areas of art including sculpture, pottery, mask making, and many more (African Arts Information). nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Like African paintings, poetry, and woodcarvings, sculptures tell a tale and immortalize cultures and beliefs. Different artists have different styles (African Arts Information). Materials and styles differ from village to village. Most sculptors use green wood, copper, tin, zinc alloys, bronze, ivory, or terra cotta, a kind of earth ware. Most sculpture figures are believed to contain ancestor’s spirits. Others represent sacred ideas or events (Fetzer 106). Some objects are said to be magical and believed to have magical powers (African Arts). Africans carve figures, make masks, and decorate articles for ceremonies (Fetzer 106). nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Masks were created to be placed over the face, on the top of the head, or even over the head. Most masks represent spirits of ancestors (Fetzer 106). Some villages make masks with full costumes and use them with music to dance in ritual performances. They used masks for social control,Show MoreRelatedRelationship Between Africa And Africa987 Words   |  4 PagesAfrica could have developed trade relations with any other country but why with Europe? During the fifteenth (15th) century Africa developed a very unique relationship with Europe ¹. Before Africa and Europe established their trade relationship, the African s economic status was way ahead of Europe s.1 It was said that â€Å"The West African empire of Mali was larger than Western Europe and reputed to be one of the richest and most powerful states in the world.†2 Africa was known for its gold, whichRead MoreMultilateral Relations Between Africa And Africa1407 Words   |  6 Pages Introduction Africa, once regarded as ‘good for nothing but exploitation’, however, the block has gradually gained modest relations, and aspiring to cultivate a multifaceted partnership with major global political players in all directions from Left-Right, East–West, North-South, and South-South. The two major partners forged their own cooperation are Peoples Republic of China and United States of America and the partnerships they created are known as Sino - Africa relations named ‘Forum on China-AfricaRead MoreThe Scramble for Africa1154 Words   |  5 Pages What was the Scramble for Africa? The Scramble for Africa was a period of time where major European countries fought over and colonized land in Africa, stretching from South Africa to Egypt. The scramble for Africa began shortly after the slave trade, and ended at WW1, and is a strong representation of the ‘New Imperialism’. The first country to act was Belgium, who colonized Congo at 1885, but soon, other countries such as Portugal and Great Britain joined in in order to not miss out. FirstlyRead MoreScramble for Africa835 Words   |  4 PagesEuropean powers were involved in Africa since the mid-1500s but had restricted their area of influence to only the coastal regions of Western Africa, where powers such as Great Britain established hubs for their highly profitable slave trade (David). Over a period of nearly three hundred years, European ships had transported more than 11 million people from Africa to different areas of the world, including America after the slave trade was abolished in Europe, a nd sold them into slavery (David)Read MoreHunger in Africa905 Words   |  4 PagesSummative Task HUNGER IN AFRICA Christine Mande HEOR-02 Mr.Dragan January 18th 2013 Hunger is one of the most common problems in the world. It is such a dangerous thing. It kills more people in a year than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined. Many countries struggle with famine and they don’t have much help either. Countries like Somalia, Ethiopia, Mozambique and Sudan are some of the countries that suffer from hunger more than others do. In Africa there are 60% of people whoRead MoreThe And Its Effects On Africa1550 Words   |  7 Pages â€Å"In time, we shall be in a position to bestow on Africa the greatest possible gift - a more human face.†Ã¢â‚¬â€Steve Biko. The continent that the rest of the world looks down upon is struggling for a different reason than you may think. Though the white-washed, western world often believes Africa to be a land of inferior civilizations, inferior people, or inferior culture, all of these small civilizations that have spanned the continent for thousands of years cannot be blamed for any economic disadvantagesRead MoreThe Blessing Of Africa838 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"THE BLESSING OF AFRICA† God had deposited great wealth in Sub Saharan Africa and its lands holds the largest amount of the world’s wealth and treasures. Africa produces and export 60 percent of the world’s mineral resources, and supplies the largest amount of world’s precious stones. The nation of Africa is rich in metals, diamonds, gold, cobalt, beryllium, chromium, manganese, lithium, radium, oil, vanadium, metric tons, phosphate, copper, dolerite, granite, lead, bauxite, aluminum ore, QuartziteRead MoreColonization in Africa991 Words   |  4 PagesEuropean colonization effected Africa negatively, as it resulted in the continent being taken advantage of, people and resources exploited, and their economical standpoint being very low. By looking at Africa’s experience with the Berlin Conference and the effects it had, we can see how greatly the continent was negatively influenced. The Berlin Conference brought King Leopold II into Africa, but the world did not know that it would result in genocide of about 5,000 people in Sierra Leone. ContinuingRead MoreTransatlantic Trade Between Africa And Africa2039 Words   |  9 Pagestransatlantic slave trade occurred throughout the world and lasted well over four hundred years. Oversea trade between Africa a nd the Portuguese, along with other European kingdoms, formed, which began what is known as the transatlantic slave trade. Along with a variety of goods, copious amounts of slaves, roughly twenty-five million, were traded between the continents of Europe and Africa. Driving the trade were politics, economics, religion, business, and a desire for profit. Along with the majorityRead MorePoaching in Africa1243 Words   |  5 Pages Endangered animals all over Africa are on the verge of extinction due to human greed. It is very difficult to even fathom how many animals are lost each year to poaching. Animals are being stripped for their parts and left for dead. Poaching has completely exhausted animal populations in Africa, which damages the environment, and is affecting people all over the world both socially and through international relations. Poaching is a growing activity in Africa and it is dangerously depleting animal

God and Godlike Humans in the Bible and Iliad Free Essays

The Position of Gods and God The characterization of individuals through specific and repeated character descriptions are consistent with social norms and create binding values associated each character. In the Iliad, which can be considered the primary religious text of antiquity, godly epithets are used to accompany characters with dominant abilities. The Bible also features consistent divine descriptions throughout the various writings. We will write a custom essay sample on God and Godlike Humans in the Bible and Iliad or any similar topic only for you Order Now By regularly featuring characters with â€Å"godlike† descriptions, Homer’s language defines the humanity and position of the Greek gods, creating a sharp distinction from the descriptive writing in the Bible that defines the unreachable position of the monotheistic God. Although the gods of the Iliad and the God of Genesis are similar in their interaction with mortals, the usage and nature of divine language in character descriptions, along with the ability for a mortal to attain â€Å"godlike† status, are remarkably different. Throughout the Iliad, Homer pays respect to soldiers by mentioning their name with various adjacent positive qualities. In the first book of the Iliad, â€Å"godlike Polyphemous† is introduced among a list of noteworthy soldiers (Iliad 1:264). Although Polyphemous is an unfamiliar character that is not central to the action, Homer wholly compares him to a god. The pairing of this godly term with such an insignificant character represents how divine status is obtainable for mortals, especially because Homer does not provide an explanation as to how Polyphemous achieved this status. Within this same listing of soldiers, Theseus is also mentioned as being â€Å"in the likeness of the immortals† (Iliad 1:265). While this phrase exemplifies noteworthy status in the gods’ perspective, it is distinctively different than being compared to the gods. Homer, therefore, employs specific language to carefully present a difference in how characters can either be in the likeness of the gods or completely similar to them. Homer frequents divine descriptions when mentioning soldiers, noting how numerous men have ascended into a role similar to a god simply by heroic accomplishments or physical attributes. For example, Homer describes Idomeneus â€Å"like a god standing† and â€Å"Akamas, beauteous as god† (Iliad 2:230, 11:60). This divine language not only portrays the importance of both soldiers and physical prowess in society, but also represents how mortals can bridge the gap between the divine and the earthly by possessing superior ability or physical features. In book 5 of the Iliad as Diomedes is preparing for battle, Homer provides an anecdote of Eurypylos, who was â€Å"honored about the countryside as a god is† due to his victory in battle (Iliad, 5:78). By mentioning this story and specific language before a battle scene, Homer demonstrates to the reader that Diomedes, or any character, can achieve godlike standing by winning a significant battle. Warfare, which is an integral aspect of society in the Iliad, also plays an important role in the Old Testament. In the book of Genesis, the writers mention Nimrod as the â€Å"first on earth to become a mighty man† (Genesis 10:8). Similar to the large amount of soldiers mentioned in the Iliad, Nimrod achieves recognition for his violent skills and physicality. However, Nimrod is purposely introduced as a â€Å"hunter before the lord† (Genesis 10:10). Rather than comparing Nimrod to God because of his skill, the writers of Genesis portray his skill as being devoted to the lord. Although Homer would have confidently considered Nimrod godlike, this language displays how the writers of Genesis believed that superiority in skill does not create a godlike mortal. Rather, excellent ability is practiced in honor of the lord and fulfilled in accordance with God’s desires. Odysseus, the skilled speaker and warrior, is consistently featured in the Iliad with godlike qualities. For example, he is titled â€Å"godlike† while motivating the Greek soldiers before battle (Iliad 2:335). This specific account not only displays how possessing a superior talent is considered a godlike quality, but also how reputation and fame grant worthy comparison to the gods. Odysseus became well known during the Trojan War because of his profound ability to speak, giving him the opportunity to encourage thousands of soldiers who â€Å"cried out† and offered â€Å"applause† in honor and respect (Iliad 2:335). Homer’s language in this scene displays that famous and recognizable mortals are comparable to the gods, who are the most identifiable characters in antiquity. Because citizens of Greece admire Odysseus’ skill and knew his name just as if it were a god’s, Homer considers him to be godlike. Hector, another distinguished soldier known throughout Greece, is the most notable example of immortal characterization. Presented as â€Å"equal of Zeus in counsel,† Homer portrays Hector as being wholly comparable to Zeus, the most significant of the gods (Iliad 7:47). This language blatantly proclaims that Hector, one of the most idolized mortals, is equally advisable as Zeus, the most idolized god. Because Helen is the speaker, the reader gains an understanding into the analogous value of both Hector and Zeus from a mortal’s perspective. Abraham, one of the most prominent mortals in the book of Genesis, is the patriarch of the Israelites, serving as the liaison between God and his people. Abraham achieved his fame and status through defeating challenges and personal displays of righteousness, but the writers of Genesis do not consider him to be godlike. Rather, Abraham is considered â€Å"blessed by God most high† (Genesis 14:19). The highest achievement for mortals in Genesis is not to be considered godlike, but only to be fortunate under the direction of God’s desires. This language proves that God not only provides success and preeminence, but also deserves honor from those he has provided for. Although similar to Odysseus and Hector in status, Abraham’s significance does not make him godlike. The writers of Genesis viewed his prestige and position as a gift from the unreachable God. Although mortals never deliberately strive to mimic the gods in the Iliad, Homer employs divine language to present how superiority in skill, physicality, and fame give mortals godly status. In the Old Testament, mortals such as Abraham, who live according to God’s commands and therefore impersonate his heavenly characteristics, are never able to elevate to godlike status. Although both the Olympian gods and God present humanlike qualities and interact with mortal characters, the position of God’s status remains unreachable. The usage and nature of divine language in character descriptions may help explain why the Iliad is now historically considered mythology and the Bible stills remains a religious text. How to cite God and Godlike Humans in the Bible and Iliad, Essay examples