Week1.2--rading blog--LI LINLIN

 (1)Summary:

Sociology is a broad discipline that studies social structure and human behavior, ranging from microscopic interactions between individuals to macroscopic processes of entire social systems. Sociology uses empirical research and critical analysis methods to develop an understanding of how society works and, in some cases, to apply this knowledge to optimize policies to improve public well-being.

The research methods of sociology include qualitative and quantitative analysis, covering social relations, social hierarchy, cultural differences, prejudice and other fields. Over time, the discipline has expanded its focus from traditional topics to more modern areas, such as economic activity and health disparities, applying more complex mathematical methods, including social network analysis.

The development of sociology is closely related to the historical social changes, originating from the industrial revolution, the expansion of imperialism and the scientific rationality of the Age of Enlightenment. Early sociologists used this emerging discipline to explore and understand social change. For example, some of the founders of sociology, such as Emile Durkheim, tried to explain the complexity and dynamics of society through sociological research.

The practical goal of sociology is not only to predict human behavior, but more importantly to understand the social structure and cultural background behind the behavior. Through the "Verstehen" approach, as proposed by Max Weber, sociologists attempt to understand social phenomena from the perspective of participants rather than from the perspective of external observers.

The article also mentioned that sociology, because of its study of dynamic and changeable social phenomena, is constantly innovating and adjusting in theory and method. The development of sociology has shown that it is a discipline that focuses on both theoretical depth and practical application, and continues to play a role in understanding complex social problems and proposing solutions. This flexibility and broad applicability of sociology makes it a key discipline for understanding and responding to the challenges of the modern world.

(2) Interesting points:

Sociology seeks not only to predict human behavior, but more importantly to understand the social structure and cultural context behind it. This approach emphasizes the importance of the "Verstehen" approach proposed by Max Weber, which is an attempt to understand social phenomena from the perspective of the participants, rather than just as external observers.

(3)Q：

How does Max Weber's "Verstehen" approach address the challenges of globalization and cultural diversity in modern sociological research?

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