Ethnocentrism vs. Xenocentrism Debate:
Should one’s own culture always be viewed as superior?
Can xenocentrism help foster multiculturalism?
How do these two concepts affect international
experiences, especially for those living abroad?
How can we develop a balance of appreciation for
one’s own culture and others?
Multiculturalism in a global city.
Please share one advantage and one challenge of living
in a multicultural society, based on your
experiences in Paris.
How does Paris, as a multicultural city, accommodate
different cultures?
Have you noticed examples of cultural integration, or
do people tend to stay within their own cultural groups?
The Debate on Culture, Subculture, and Counter-Culture:
How does culture shape our identity and worldview?
To what extent do cultural norms and values influence
behavior in different societies?
Discuss how globalization has impacted cultural
diversity. Has it led to cultural homogenization or
greater appreciation for cultural differences?
Subculture:
What role do subcultures play in expressing
individuality and identity in a larger society?
How do subcultures like goth, hip-hop, or skater
communities challenge or reinforce mainstream
cultural values?
Can subcultures exist without being commodified
by mainstream society? Discuss with examples.
Counterculture:
How do countercultures, such as the 1960s hippie
movement, seek to challenge and change dominant
social norms?
Are modern countercultures, such as environmental
or anti-consumerist movements, as influential as past
ones?
What role do technology and social media play in the
formation and spread of countercultures today?
Max Weber. (1864-1920)
Why does Capitalism exist?
What is the “Protestant work ethic”?
Explain the differences between Catholicism and
Protestantism regarding “work”.
Explain the differences between Catholicism and Protestantism
regarding the notion of family.
Explain the notion of “disenchantment of the world.”
Explain the differences between Marx and Weber regarding
religion.
7. Explain the three types of power humanity has gone through.
According to the author, Harriet Martineau “found the workings
of capitalism at odds with the professed moral principles of the
people of the United States.”
She pointed out “the faults with the free enterprise system in
which the workers were exploited and impoverished while
business owners became wealthy”
The belief that “all are created equal was inconsistent with
the lack of women’s rights”
Do you agree with Spencer’s perspective on the survival
of the fittest? Do you think Darwin’s ideas about natural
selection be applied in the field of social studies?
Auguste Compte (1798-1857)
What are the “three stages” mentioned by Compte? Explain each one of them.
Express and justify your opinion regarding the Comptean evolutive scheme.
Can these stages co-exist or overlap within societies? Why (or why not)?
Reading Beyond: Einstein’s Space and Van Gogh’s Sky. Physical Reality and Beyond. Le Shan, and Margeneau.
1. Syllabus. Evaluations. Working in groups, et. cetera.
2. Introduce yourself.
3. Why are you interested in sociology?
4. What social issue interests you the most?
