DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
Master's Degree in Sociology
Academic Year 2016/2017 - 1° Year

TEORIA SOCIOLOGICA E MODELLI SOCIOLOGICI DELLA COMPLESSITA'

Teaching Staff

Learning Objectives

• The contemporary sociological theory
  
  The first module will focus on the theoretical study of the sociological knowledge as configured in the current international scene. In particular, it will deal with issues related to the functionalist tradition and its interpretations; theories of everyday life; the rational choice theory and the new institutionalism.
• The sociology of modernity
  
  The second module will take into account some of the most important theories of modernity developed by authors such as Giddens, Castells, Beck, Bauman, Sassen. Particular attention will be devoted to the theme of identity in its variations taken as an object of theoretical analysis and empirical investigation by the Social Sciences.
• Theory and models in the current sociological debate
  
  In the third module there will be introduced and deepened some issues concerning the comparison of the sociological analysis with other sciences, in particular molecular biology and neurosciences. Through some references to issues of behavioral genomics there will be offered some cues to inspire analysis on some points of mediation and divergence between the different ways in which these different scientific fields look to the natural and cultural determinants of social behavior, to the innate structure of mental processes, to the limits of learning skills, to the foundations of decision-making.
• Sociological Analysis of Complex Systems
  
  The course aims to provide theoretical and methodological tools in order to analyze society as complex system, that is, a nonlinear interaction system able to exhibit emergent, surprising, unpredictable phenomena. In this respect, the course aims to train in students the consciousness of a science unification process due the pervasiveness of nonlinear phenomena in any, natural and social, scientific context. By this knowledge they can mature theoretical and methodological skills that enable them to analyze and interpret the functioning ways and dynamics of society.

Detailed Course Content

• The contemporary sociological theory
  

  The biological metaphor: functionalism and neo-functionalism;

  The enigma of everyday life: symbolic interactionism, ethnomethodology and dramaturgical approach;

  The economic man invasion: from rational choice theory to the new institutionalism.

• The sociology of modernity
  

  Giddens's theory of modernity.

  The empirical turning point in contemporary social theory.

  Complexity and risk society.

  Identity and modernization.

• Theory and models in the current sociological debate
  

  Evolution and genetic determinism;

  Evolutionary Biology and sociological theory;

  Genes, diversity, criminal responsibility.

• Sociological Analysis of Complex Systems
  

  The study of Nonlinear Complex System Theory is divided into three sections. The first section relates to the reconstruction of the epistemological debate which questioned the Newtonian-Laplacian classical scientific conception and affirmed the new paradigm of complexity and chaos. It reflects on the distinctive traits, possibilities and limits of Complexity and Chaos Theory, taking into proper account some critical aspects which were emphasized on these issues in recent decades. The second section explores the impact of complexity and chaos paradigm in the field of contemporary sociology, through a reflection on the redefinition of classical sociological problems which is matured in the light of its distinctive categories. The last section regards the study of tools by which complex systems can be analyzed. In particular, it regards the modelling of social processes by non-linear equation models (specifically the Logistic model and its derivatives, and the Lotka-Volterra model) and their application to different fields of social sciences (sociology, economics, political science, psychology, competitive international relations and competition electoral studies).

Textbook Information

• The contemporary sociological theory
  

  Text 1): P. Baert, F. Carreira da Silva, The contemporary social theory, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2010; Chap. II, III, IV.
  Supplementary text (optional): D. O'Byrne (2012), Sociology. Fundamentals and theories, Pearson.

• The sociology of modernity
  

  Text 1): P. Baert, F. Carreira da Silva, The contemporary social theory, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2010; Chap. V, VIII.

  Text 2): Vignera R. (2011), Fluid identity and genetic indeterminacy, SRS, 94, pp. 79-110.

  Text 3): P. Vezzoni, Vignera R. (2012) Misconceptions and illusions on identity and modernization, SRS, 98, pp. 28-53.

  Supplementary text (optional): D. O'Byrne (2012), Sociology. Fundamentals and theories, Pearson.

• Theory and models in the current sociological debate
  

  Text 4): R. Vignera (2010) (eds), Neo-Darwinism and Social Sciences, Angeli, Milan; pp. 23-40; 171-202; 205-230.

• Sociological Analysis of Complex Systems
  

  Testo 1. Bertuglia C., Vaio F., Nonlinearità, caos, complessità. Le dinamiche dei sistemi naturali e sociali, Bollati Boringhieri, Torino, 2003, pp. 261-349.
  Testo 2. Bocchi H., Ceruti M., La sfida della complessità, Bruno Mondadori, Milanio, 2007, pp.1-19; pp.155-169.
  Testo 3. Horgan J., La fine della scienza, Adelphi, Milano 2015, Cap.8. La fine della Complessità, pp.293-244.
  Testo 4. Bailey K., “Beyond Functionalism:Towards a Nonequilibrium Analysis of Complex Social Systems”, British Journal of Sociology, 35, 1984, pp.1-18.
  Testo 5. Condorelli R., Complessità e controllo sociale, Bonanno Editore, Catania, 2007, pp.53-90; pp. 91-124.
  

  Suggested readings:

  De Toni A., Comello L., Prede o ragni? Uomini e organizzazioni nella ragnatela della complessità. Utet, Torino, 2005.

  Prigogine I., La fine delle certezze, Bollati Boringhieri, Torino, edizione 2009