Mirror Sites:
CSUDH Habermas UWP

California State University, Dominguez Hills
University of Wisconsin, Parkside
Created: June 6, 2001
Latest update: September 7, 2001
jeannecurran@habermas.org

Undergraduate Theory Readings
Week of September 10, 2001: Week 3

Discussion topics for Week 3:

1. What theoretical perspectives does the reading on The New Downtown L.A. suggest to you. (Consider the concepts covered by jeanne's lecture notes.)

2. If we were planning a review of the literature for a research project or a term paper on transforming the inner city, how would we begin? (Consider what is being transformed, and look for theory relating to the specific activities you want to study.)

3. What are some of the main concepts of Marx you want to be sure to be able to identify? (Consider the Farganis readings on Marx: commodification, alienation, class struggle, bourgeoisie, proletariat.)

4. How does Durkheim's social fact define the field of sociology as different from psychology? (Consider who has agency and what the interdependent role with the structural context is. See Constitutive Theory on agency and structural context)

5. Why is it that we are to think differently about the world and reality? (Consider Marvin Barrera's shared entries from weeks 1 and 2.

6. What justifies our doubting of the order of things? (Consider postmodernism and critical theory and postcolonialism. See also Marvin Barrera's shared entries from weeks 1 and 2.

7. What is "quick and dirty" research? And how do you do it? (Surprise lecture for week 3.)

• Readings:

  • Tuesday, September 11, 2001:
  • Hardcopy reading: Farganis, Readings in Social Theory: Chapter 1: Marx. pp. 27 - 30. Farganis' introduction to Marx and Estranged Labor: pp. 43 - 55.

    Online Resources where you can find readings on Marx and Durkheim:

  • The Dead Sociologists Society
  • SocioSite Famous Sociologists.

• Thursday, September 12, 2001:
  At 2:30 p.m. Pat's Retirement Party in SCC M110.

  • Labor, Nature, and Value Theory by Nancy Brumback External Site. Advanced theory on Marx.
  • The New Downtown in L.A We will do a theory class project on this group.

  • Hardcopy reading: Farganis, Readings in Social Theory: Chapter 1: Durkheim:. pp. 27 - 30. Farganis' introduction to Durkheim, pp. 58 - 62 and What Is a Social Fact?: pp. 63 - 68.

• Some Suggested Measures of Learning: jeannecurran@habermas.org:

  • Give an explanation in your own words of what Marx's contributions to sociology were
  • Expalin the importance of Durkheim's concept of the social fact.
  • Explain why we need to "re-interpret" Marx and Durkheim.
  • Answer one of the discussion questions in your own words.
  • Your own choice of measurement.