11 years ago
Saturday
Choices Really?
As systematically put by Weber, "There is no Objectivity". As simple as it gets, one gets to wonder how Weber came up with that, and then using the phrase to understand life, and choices. It really begins to sink in; how free is the the idea of freewill if we live in a society that is molded by traditions and from that environment we develop what we like to think of as freewill, and claim to make choices. Further thinking of Weber's approach only makes me begin to think that, perhaps having no objectivity is Change. I say that because given the fact that every one else is so ritually trying to squeeze change out of the ritualistic perspective of objective, of freewill and choice that has become to monotonous that the harder they try to emphasize change, the more stuck they actually are to the ritualistic perspective that they sort to change in the first place.
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6 comments:
I dont believe that we live in a society that is utterly free. Durkheim introduced the idea of social forces that exsist outside the jurisdiction of human beings and that restricted humans from completely living out their wishes and desires because the force of conformity and regulation was always there. The way that society is organized affects humans because we cant control the systems within societ on which it is based on, we can alter them significantly yes, but not change them because society is already the way it is meant to be set up.
In our classroom exercise on Thursday, I was categorized as a “peacock”, or one who champions “change”. After some discussion with our modestly sized group, we decided that Weber was the classical sociologist that best addressed what sociology should be asking. Naturally, I rifled through my old notes from my SOC 412 class and found some interesting correlations to “change.” Weber was interested in how modern processes have changed everyday life. He wanted to know how social action brought about change. Weber also believed that we should look at ideas, especially the meanings we project onto things, and the role of the change in ideas that contribute to society and to social change. Weber utilized the German word, "verstehen" (meaning: interpretive understanding), to discuss our deeper understanding of those meanings. Because nothing is objective, there exist immeasurably diverse perspectives on any given thing. It is important for us to utilize verstehen to indentify and understand the meaning of things and the use of symbols in society. Our subjectivity, interpretations and critical analysis are ultimately what fuels change in society.
good points, BF Pink.
Bingo on Weber = change.
Makogun2: remind me in class on week 3 (not this week) to deliver my view of "freewill" and 'determinism' - it's a way to look at it that has served me for decades.
All are good comments...
Change, what is change? After I have read all comments change does come with time and obviously it has to be brought by a really big group of subjective thinkers (people with feelings)that sacrificed something in order to make it happen. Now having said that, who creates change? Is it one person having a radical idea and presenting it upon a group of people and having them accept it, or is it everyone in that group with the same want of change?
I know this probably won't make sense and most likely u were talking about something else but this is what came to mind when i read it :)
it seems as if everyone is just a puppet in society. We are not "allowed" to be "us" or do as we please. If we do not follow the "rules" then we are cast aside or riddiculed for not being like everyone else. For instance, the parents of a boy who loves playing with barbies would most likely be an embarrassment to his family or laughed at. Men are supposed to be a ceirtain way in our society. His sex dictates the life he "should" follow. There is no room for exceptions in many cases. Many people who grew up with parents like that continue to raise their children the same way even if they feel it's wrong. It is so embedded into their lives just like many traditions, values or any ideas that were passed on to us by authorities.
iny: great movie on that is "My Life in Pink" - they have it at the library on video tape.
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