Sociology

Section A

Does religion always promote social stability ? What arguments do conflict theorists use to counter functionalist perspective on religion Criticisms

The available evidence clearly demonstrates that regular religious practice is both an individual and social good . It is a powerful answer to social pathologies , such as out-of-wedlock births

crime , delinquency , drug and alcohol addiction , health problems anxieties and it improves health , learning , economic well-being self-control , self-esteem , and empathy . It is available to all , and at no cost . Functionalism is about the structure and workings of society Functionalists see

society as made up of inter-dependent sections which work together to fulfill the functions and needs of the society . It was criticized for being unable to account for social change . Conflict theorists criticized functionalism 's concept of systems as giving far too much weight to integration and consensus , and neglecting independence and conflict , it is static and has no concept of change .It is true that it does place emphasis on equilibrium and the maintenance or quick return to social . The fact that functional analysis was seen by some as inherently conservative and by others as inherently radical suggests that it may be inherently neither one nor the other Stronger criticisms include the epistemological argument that functionalism is teleological , that is it attempts to describe social institutions solely through their effects and thereby does not explain the cause of those effects

Another criticism describes the ontological argument that society cannot have "needs " as a human being does , and even if society does have needs they need not be met and that functionalist explanations may all be rewritten as historical accounts of individual human actions and consequences . It is criticized that it contains no sense of agency , that individuals are seen as puppets , acting , as their role requires

Section B

What functions does schooling serve in modern society ? Examine this question from both the functionalist and conflict viewpoints

Conceptual knowledge is the organization of ideas by the power of mind That conceptual knowledge becomes most powerful when it is organized into a system

Functionalist theory argues that society tends toward natural equilibrium and its division of labor develops through an almost natural matching of individual talents obtained from school and societal needs Healthy societies maintain some basic degree of equilibrium and place all of their members into the roles for which they are fit in the society . This theory also assumes that people have common interests even when they have different positions in society . Thus , a group organizing to force change is actually unhealthy , as it can throw off equilibrium and cooperation to produce gradual change is a better alternative . In this model , poor people only need opportunity , not power , and cooperation between the haves and the have-nots is the best means to provide opportunity . Functionalist theory fits with social service practices that peacefully integrate people into existing institutional structures

Conflict theory sees no natural tendency toward anything but conflict over scarce resources . In this model , society develops through struggle between groups . Stability in society is only fleeting , because one group dominates the other groups . Conflict theory sees society as divided particularly between corporations and workers . The instability inherent in such divided societies prevents elites from achieving absolute domination and provides opportunities for those on the bottom to create change through organizing for collective action and conflict . Conflict theory fits with social movement practices that confront and attempt to change existing institutional structures

Work cited

Merton , Robert ,1957 . Social Theory and Social Structure . London : The Free Press of Glencoe

Nganu PAGE 2 ...