The ghost of Patrick Geddes:civics as applied sociology

In 1904 and 1905 Patrick Geddes (1905, 1906) read his famed, but today little-read, two-part paper, 'Civics: as Applied Sociology', to the first meetings of the British Sociological Society. Geddes is often thought of as a 'pioneer of sociology' (Mairet, 1957;Meller, 1990) and for some (egDevine, 1999: 296) as 'a seminal influence on sociology'. However, little of substance has been written to critically assess Geddes's intellectual legacy as a sociologist. His work is largely forgotten by sociologists in Britain (Abrams, 1968;Halliday, 1968;Evans, 1986). Few have been prepared to follow Geddes's ambition to bridge the chasm between nature and culture, environment and society, geography, biology and sociology. His conception of 'sociology', oriented towards social action from a standpoint explicitly informed by evolutionary theory. A re-appraisal of the contemporary relevance of Geddes's thinking on civics as applied sociology has to venture into the knotted problem of evolutionary sociology. It also requires giving some cogency to Geddes's often fragmentary and inconsistent mode of address. Although part of a post-positivist, 'larger modernism' Geddes remained mired in nineteenth century evolutionary thought and fought shy of dealing with larger issues of social class or the breakthrough work of early twentieth century sociology of Simmel, Weber and Durkheim. His apolitical notion of 'civics' limits its relevance to academic sociology today

Bourdieu, feminism and female physical culture: Gender reflexivity and the habitus-field complex

Feminist theorizing in the sociology of sport and physical culture has progressed through ongoing and intense dialogue with an array of critical positions and voices in the social sciences (e.g., Judith Butler, R.W. Connell, Michel Foucault). Yet, somewhat surprisingly, the work of French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu—arguably one of modern sociology’s “most important voices of social critique and theoretical innovation” (Krais, 2006, p. 120)—has gone largely unheard among critical sports scholars interested in gender (notable exceptions include Atencio, Beal & Wilson, 2009; Brown, 2006; Kay & Laberge, 2004; Laberge, 1995). In this paper I introduce recent feminist engagements with Bourdieu’s original work to a critical sports sociology readership via a case study of snowboarding culture and female snowboarders. I begin by briefly examining the efficacy of three of Bourdieu’s key concepts—capital, field and habitus—for explaining gender and embodiment in snowboarding culture. I then consider how the habitus-field complex can illustrate the “synchronous nature of constraint and freedom” (McNay, 2000, p. 61) for women in contemporary physical culture

The Ghost of Patrick Geddes: Civics As Applied Sociology

In 1904 and 1905 Patrick Geddes (1905, 1906) read his famed, but today little-read, two-part paper, \'Civics: as Applied Sociology\', to the first meetings of the British Sociological Society. Geddes is often thought of as a \'pioneer of sociology\' (Mairet, 1957; Meller, 1990) and for some (eg Devine, 1999: 296) as \'a seminal influence on sociology\'. However, little of substance has been written to critically assess Geddes\'s intellectual legacy as a sociologist. His work is largely forgotten by sociologists in Britain (Abrams, 1968; Halliday, 1968; Evans, 1986). Few have been prepared to follow Geddes\'s ambition to bridge the chasm between nature and culture, environment and society, geography, biology and sociology. His conception of \'sociology\', oriented towards social action from a standpoint explicitly informed by evolutionary theory. A re-appraisal of the contemporary relevance of Geddes\'s thinking on civics as applied sociology has to venture into the knotted problem of evolutionary sociology. It also requires giving some cogency to Geddes\'s often fragmentary and inconsistent mode of address. Although part of a post-positivist, \'larger modernism\' Geddes remained mired in nineteenth century evolutionary thought and fought shy of dealing with larger issues of social class or the breakthrough work of early twentieth century sociology of Simmel, Weber and Durkheim. His apolitical notion of \'civics\' limits its relevance to academic sociology today.History of Sociology, Civics, Patrick Geddes, Scottish Generalism, Urban Sociology

Book Review : Bellanta, Melissa (2012) Larrikins : A History. Brisbane: University of Queensland Press.

This book has been painstakingly researched by a scholar whose intellectual competencies span several disciplines: history, sociology, criminology, culture, drama and film studies. It is theoretically sophisticated and yet not dense as it reads like a novel with an abundance of interesting complex characters

Book review: Symbolic power, politics and intellectuals: the political sociology of Pierre Bourdieu

"Symbolic Power, Politics and Intellectuals: The Political Sociology of Pierre Bourdieu." David L. Swartz. University of Chicago Press. May 2013. --- Power is the central organizing principle of all social life, from culture and education to stratification and taste. And there is no more prominent name in the analysis of power than that of Pierre Bourdieu. In Symbolic Power, Politics, and Intellectuals, David L. Swartz delves into Bourdieu’s work to show how central – but often overlooked – power and politics are to an understanding of sociology. This book can be regarded as a superb piece of analysis, as well as a great read, and one which successfully sheds light on a neglected aspect of Bourdieu’s work, concludes Luke McDonagh

Culture in Heritage On the Socio-Anthropological Notion of Culture in Current Heritage Discourses

The intellectual ‘heritage’ of social anthropology - universalism, cultural relativism and comparative method - is today strongly used as a tool-box by institutions and scholars from other fields. An anthropologically colored concept of culture is employed in UNESCO’s international legal frameworks, in the epistemological foundation and justification of the new academic subject heritage as well as for wider contextualizations of case studies on specific heritage items. While all of these discourses involve a marked universalistic notion of culture, the contribution of our paper is to show the different roles that the anthropological subject, culture, plays in each one of them. (Past; History; Sociology of time; Cultural Heritage; UNESCO

International Information

Sociology as a science and its place in the humanities and social science. The main functions of sociology. Background of sociology. The place and role of social research in the knowledge of social phenomena. Methods of collecting primary data. The social structure of society. Sociology of work and industrial relations. Sociology of family life and leisure. Sociology of education and culture. Sociology of personality

THE SOCIOLOGY OF ISLAMIC CULTURE

The Islamic Culture’s sociology engulfs all socio mores of human way of living. The criterion and nature of this society is to regulate the individual’s conduct both in person and with other human beings, basing on his Creator’s moral fiber for ultimate success. This edict of living is marvelous which distinguishes itself from manmade experiences and evolution in its application. This is divinely ordained, tangible and everlasting for all related situations. It standardizes all living obligations of human life like faith, rituals, education, matrimonial, legal, social, political, economics and behavioral ethics. It provides guidance for every obligation of life including all societal issues of peace and war times, national/international. The main sources of guidance are the ‘Quran and Sunnah’ with two supplementary sources: Ijmaa and Qiyas: (Drawing analogy from the essence of divine principles and preceding by the jurists/learned people for all religious and socio living). These rulings open the doors of cosmopolitan culture for peace and progress. This sociology provides solution for all new issues of life on earth with respect to other religion’s values. The example is “The truce of Madina by the Prophet of Islam (saw)” in 634 AD. The Islamic way is of tolerance and peace, it presents a moral, spiritual human civilization force which made and is making positive contribution for the development of human living. The present adversary of other cultures/ religions’ followers against Muslims and Islamic culture is addressed in this paper

THE SOCIOLOGY OF ISLAMIC CULTURE

The Islamic Culture’s sociology engulfs all socio mores of human way of living. The criterion and nature of this society is to regulate the individual’s conduct both in person and with other human beings, basing on his Creator’s moral fiber for ultimate success. This edict of living is marvelous which distinguishes itself from manmade experiences and evolution in its application. This is divinely ordained, tangible and everlasting for all related situations. It standardizes all living obligations of human life like faith, rituals, education, matrimonial, legal, social, political, economics and behavioral ethics. It provides guidance for every obligation of life including all societal issues of peace and war times, national/international. The main sources of guidance are the ‘Quran and Sunnah’ with two supplementary sources: Ijmaa and Qiyas: (Drawing analogy from the essence of divine principles and preceding by the jurists/learned people for all religious and socio living). These rulings open the doors of cosmopolitan culture for peace and progress. This sociology provides solution for all new issues of life on earth with respect to other religion’s values. The example is “The truce of Madina by the Prophet of Islam (saw)” in 634 AD. The Islamic way is of tolerance and peace, it presents a moral, spiritual human civilization force which made and is making positive contribution for the development of human living. The present adversary of other cultures/ religions’ followers against Muslims and Islamic culture is addressed in this paper

Sociology

Summary of the course : sociology as a science and its place in the humanities and social science. The main functions of sociology. Background of sociology. The place and role of social research in the knowledge of social phenomena. Methods of collecting primary data. The social structure of society. Sociology of work and industrial relations. Sociology of family life and leisure. Sociology of education and culture. Sociology of personality