Class Theories of Sociology

The curricular unit introduces to - some epistemological aspects as the construction of social reality, social problems and sociological problems, the plurality of Social Sciences/Interdisciplinarity; - the historical aspects and the development of scientific knowledge: from philosophy to Social Sciences; - it presents thinkers of the main sociological schools: Auguste Comte and Positivism, Emile Durkheim and Functionalism, Max Weber's constructivism, Karl Marx's historical and dialectical materialism, among others. - the theoretical perspectives of sociology as a basis of interpretation and intervention for the Social Work profession.

Not applicable

1. Sociological theory, social theory and the social sciences 1.1. The construction of social reality 1.2. Social problems and sociological problems 1.3. The plurality of the Social Sciences/Interdisciplinarity 1.4. The theoretical perspectives of Sociology as a basis for interpretation and intervention in Social Work 2. Founders and thinkers of the main sociological schools 2.1. Comte's method of knowledge and Positivism 2.2. Sociology and the scientific method: Durkheim's contribution 2.3. Social action, power and comprehensive sociology in Max Weber 2.4. Karl Marx's historical and dialectical materialism 2.5. The Chicago School 2.6 Structural functionalism 2.7. Action, System and Social Structure of Talcott Parsons 2.8. Merton’s Theory of Modernization 2.9. Symbolic Interactionism: Mead and Goffman 2.10. Mass Society and Culture: The Frankfurt School 2.11. Giddens’s Theory of Structure 2.12. Habitus in Pierre Bourdieu

Methodologies are based on an active and participatory approach: dialogued lectures, enriched by classroom debates, which foster critical thinking and the problematization of sociological theories in different contexts; viewing and analysis of excerpts from films, documentaries, and other audiovisual resources, strengthening the link between theory and the interpretation of social reality; individual and group practical assignments, allowing the application of concepts to concrete situations, particularly within Social Work; implementation of the flipped classroom, encouraging prior preparation of topics and reinforcing collective knowledge-building in class; critical analysis of scientific articles and reference texts, enhancing skills in reading, interpretation, and academic argumentation; and personalized tutorial support, ensuring close guidance, clarification of conceptual doubts, and autonomous progression of students throughout their learning process.

Berger, P. e Luckmann, T. (1999) A construção Social da realidade: um livro sobre a sociologia do conhecimento, Lisboa, Dinalivro. Durkheim, É. (2022). As regras do método sociológico. Forte da Casa: Quimera. Giddens, A. (2007) Sociologia, Lisboa, Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian. Moreira, Carlos Diogo; Bracons, Hélia (2019). Introdução à Teoria Social. Autores escolhidos, Manuais Universitários. Lisboa: Edições Lusófonas. ISBN: 978-989-757-094-0 Santos, B.S. (1995) Um discurso sobre as Ciências, Porto, Afrontamento. Weber, M. (2015) A Ética protestante e o Espírito do capitalismo, Lisboa, Presença.