SOCS25

The concept of "consciousness" appears in the works of all major classical sociological figures. Curiously, to date, no systematic effort exists that provides a comparative assessment of its use. This course focuses on five foundational theorists-Marx, Durkheim, Weber, Mead, and Du Bois-and considers the extent to which human consciousness is central to their theories, the proposed "objects" of such consciousness, the existence of both individual and shared consciousnesses, and whether those consciousnesses exist in conflict or harmony with each other. The analysis will improve students' understanding of classical sociological thought. A consideration of consciousness in contemporary theories also informs the course. The course focuses mostly on textual analysis, but students are also expected to carry out investigations outside the classroom and around campus.