Learning outcomes

The module will explore a decisive issue: if "society" denotes a reality as original as man, how is it possible to think that "sociology" was born only in the 19th century with Comtian sociological positivism?
Our aim will be to focus the distinction between a certain way of posing, conceiving and knowing the social sphere - i.e. sociological modernity and its positivist and scientistic roots - and another possible itinerary - i.e. social ontology - which begins with a different kind of question: "what is society?". Only through a preliminary clarification of such premises a genuine elaboration of methodological tools for empirical research is possible.
This first step will introduce us into the distinction and the dialectic opposition between the notions of "function" and "system" on one side - that generate the whole categorial spectrum of sociological modernity - and, on the other side, the concepts of "ontological participation" and of "noetic (i.e. critical) sociology", which develop a deeply alternative tradition, much more ancient and radical than the the presently dominant one.

Prerequisite: none. For those who have not attended Sociology module at undergraduate level, the following readings are recommended: Gilli G.A., Manuale di sociologia, Bruno Mondadori, Milano 2000 and possibly Aron R., Le tappe del pensiero sociologico, Mondadori, Milano 1999 (Comte, Durkheim, Marx, Pareto, Weber).

Program

The module - while investigating the origins of sociology - aims at understanding that the presently-dominant theoretical and empirical frames in social research are indeed only "one" of the possible sociological tradition, precisely the one that emerged within modernity and self-legitimated by a strategic alliance with scientism (thus consequently transforming sociological reflection into mere social statistics).
This modern tradition has generated a specific all-pervading representation, according to which men are the product/output of social functions and structures. While analysing such premises through Hannah Arendt's (and, subsequently, Margaret Archer's) insights, we will try to rehabilitate a humanist sociology that, through a social ontological awakening, can restore the awareness that society is a man's creation, or rather the result of a peculiar action, i.e. social action. In this way, it will be possible to reintroduce a role for "social criticism" from the foundations of sociology. In order to explore these two incompatible alternatives, a part of the module will be devoted to a specific analysis of Marxian thought.

Reference texts:
Spaemann R., L’origine della sociologia dallo spirito della Restaurazione, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2002; Morandi E., La società è un “uomo in grande”, Marietti 1820, Genova-Milano 2010; one of the two following volumes: either Archer M., Esseri umani. Il problema dell’agire, Marietti 1820, Genova-Milano 2010, or Henry M., Marx. Una filosofia della realtà, Marietti 1820, Genova-Milano 2010.

Examination Methods

Written examination (open questions)