Dissertation woe

Sneer · 03-31-2009, 09:14 PM

No im from an Anthropology background, which is pretty much an amalgamation of sociology, psychology and history anyway. My view on it is quite similiar to yours, im very much a functionalist in that i see morality as serving to preserve the efficiency and consequent prosperity of civilization. Religion comes into it in that, specifically from a western POV, Christianity was the social institution in which morality was cultivated and impressed onto the public from.

johne · 03-31-2009, 10:46 PM

Ok, makes sense. I agree that anthropology and sociology share some theories as well as research methods. I actually borrow a lot from anthropology to study social groups or communities. I would say that I am more a "conflict theorist" rather than "functionalist." Rather than saying that morality/religion functions to "preserve efficiency and consequent prosperity of civilization," I would say that morality/religion mainly serve the purpose of the social group with the most power. The most powerful group uses morality and religion to force onto others in the society the values, norms, perspectives that best serve that powerful group. In other words, by constructing the dominant morality and notion of religion, the powerful group preserves its own efficiency and prosperity, and other members of the society are duped to believe they need to accept this dominant morality/religion to be prosperous, too.

adidasss · 03-25-2009, 03:29 AM

I've been writing a thesis for the last couple of months...

Seltzer · 03-25-2009, 03:43 AM

Maybe I'll just do a Master's and take off after that!

johne · 03-25-2009, 08:37 PM

What's the dissertation about Stu? Did one 15 years ago. The pain does fade....

TheBig3 · 03-26-2009, 02:25 PM

so this isn't a terrible "Desolation Row" pun?

03-31-2009, 09:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
Sneer Let it drip Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 5,430	No im from an Anthropology background, which is pretty much an amalgamation of sociology, psychology and history anyway. My view on it is quite similiar to yours, im very much a functionalist in that i see morality as serving to preserve the efficiency and consequent prosperity of civilization. Religion comes into it in that, specifically from a western POV, Christianity was the social institution in which morality was cultivated and impressed onto the public from. __________________ LastFM Sneer's Emporium of Sound Fright Team radio show

03-31-2009, 10:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
johne Music Addict Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Long Island, NY, USA Posts: 114	Ok, makes sense. I agree that anthropology and sociology share some theories as well as research methods. I actually borrow a lot from anthropology to study social groups or communities. I would say that I am more a "conflict theorist" rather than "functionalist." Rather than saying that morality/religion functions to "preserve efficiency and consequent prosperity of civilization," I would say that morality/religion mainly serve the purpose of the social group with the most power. The most powerful group uses morality and religion to force onto others in the society the values, norms, perspectives that best serve that powerful group. In other words, by constructing the dominant morality and notion of religion, the powerful group preserves its own efficiency and prosperity, and other members of the society are duped to believe they need to accept this dominant morality/religion to be prosperous, too. __________________ http://www.last.fm/user/jenyc

03-25-2009, 03:29 AM	#3 (permalink)
adidasss Slavic gay sauce Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Abu Dhabi Posts: 7,993	I've been writing a thesis for the last couple of months... __________________ “Think of what a paradise this world would be if men were kind and wise.” - Kurt Vonnegut, Cat's Cradle. Last.fm

03-25-2009, 03:43 AM	#4 (permalink)
Seltzer Fish in the percolator! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Hobbit Land NZ Posts: 2,870	Maybe I'll just do a Master's and take off after that! __________________ In the Court of King Crimson \| Last.fm \| RYM

03-25-2009, 08:37 PM	#5 (permalink)
johne Music Addict Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Long Island, NY, USA Posts: 114	What's the dissertation about Stu? Did one 15 years ago. The pain does fade.... __________________ http://www.last.fm/user/jenyc

03-26-2009, 02:25 PM	#6 (permalink)
TheBig3 killedmyraindog Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 11,172	so this isn't a terrible "Desolation Row" pun? __________________ I've moved to a new address

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode