LFU:online

Curr. § 5 Para 1 No 1.:

Students have acquired knowledge of the theories and history of sociology. They understand that sociology systematically takes a multidimensional, holistic approach to human co-existence, not reducing it to its economic, political or other aspects. Students are able to identify key social issues and themes, and to explore them from a sociological perspective. They know how to analyse contemporary social, cultural, economic and political developments in a scientific, i.e. theory-driven way, and they are able to critically evaluate institutions and processes in an exemplary manner.

Exploring human action in a fundamental way, sociology is not limited to a specific field of social coexistence. Rather, society as a whole is her research object. How does society come about. How do personal identities emerge? What does globalization mean for the world of work, and how does it influence religious practices? Why do people vote for extremist parties? Do we live in an information society - and what follows from that? What does gender mean today? ... what religion? Which new cultural forms are emerging just now? Do social inequalities exist in Innsbruck, Europe, and the world, and what are their causes and consequences?

In order to find answers to their research questions, sociologists need empirical evidence and theory. Theory helps reveal complex interdependencies. Empirical methods help explore the activities of human beings within society. Together, empirical evidence and theory make up the sociological gaze. 

Offering a fundamental introduction to sociology, this lecture explains sociological ways of thinking; demonstrates sociological perspectives; and challenges students to practice the sociological gaze by applying it to everyday-situations as well as to societal, political and cultural processes.

lecture, discussion, little exercises

onlin exam

Berger, Peter L./Luckmann, Thomas (1999): Die gesellschaftliche Konstruktion der Wirklichkeit. Frankfurt am Main: Fischer.

Kruse, Volker (2008): Geschichte der Soziologie. Konstanz: UVK.

Morel, Julius et al. (2015): Soziologische Theorie. Abriss der Ansätze ihrer Hauptvertreter. Berlin; Boston: de Gruyter Oldenbourg.

Nassehi, Armin (2008): Soziologie. Zehn einführende Vorlesungen. Wiesbaden: VS Verlag.

Schneider, Ludwig Wolfgang (2002, 2009): Grundlagen der soziologischen Theorie. 3 Bände. Opladen: Westdeutscher Verlag.

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