'Compare the ways in which Durkheim and Goffman have understood the Essay

'Compare the ways in which Durkheim and Goffman have understood the connections between the structures of our society and the kinds of people we are' - Essay Example The above ability of individuals is represented by the concept of agency. Agency is often related with the social structure which is a term used to explain not only the types of teams developed within the society but also the criteria used for the categorization of people to specific classes based on their religion, their gender, their racial background and so on. The issues of agency and structure as described above have been extensively examined in sociology. Both the above concepts are considered to be important in order to identify the behaviour of individuals in modern societies. Of course, the views of sociologists on agency and social structure present differences; however they all emphasize the importance of identifying the needs of human and to use them in order to explain their needs. Current paper examines the concepts of agency and structure as they are presented in the work of Durkheim and Goffman. Two particular works of the above theorists are used to develop this study: The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life of Durkheim (1912) and the ‘Asylums: Essays on the Social Situation of Mental patients and Other Inmates’ of Goffman (1961). The explanations given by Durkheim and Goffman regarding the content and the role of agency and structure have many similarities – they also have certain differences which are highlighted in the sections that follow. The fact that these two theorists lived in different periods may be the reason for these differences. All potential influences on the work of these sociologists – referring specifically to the concepts of agency and structure – are analytically presented. Society has a crucial role in the development of individuals’ perceptions – as it is accepted by both the above theorists. More specifically, Durkheim notices that ‘it is society that has consecrated the individual and made of him the thing to be respected above all; the progressive emancipation of the individual thus does not

Environmental scienence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Environmental scienence - Essay Example Mentioning a single striking revelation would be injustice to the many that are made in the film. The way chickens are raised, the way corn is fed to cattle, the way regulatory agencies are influenced by the very industry they are meant to regulate. But for me, the biggest revelation was how today only a few large companies control the entire food line from farm to market. The size of companies like Cargill, Monsanto etc. with their deep pockets and legal protection are able to actually decide what we eat every day. The most â€Å"specious† argument I found was what was presented by Troy Roush, the farmer who talks about how Monsanto has taken control over the seeds market. I don’t agree when he suggests that Monsanto took control through a brute force method and if anyone seems to challenge their hegemony, they strike at the bigger farmer and set him as an example for others. He also goes on to say that the courts and justice system seems to be tilted in favor of these large corporations (see his quote below). In my opinion, Monsanto could take over simply because of farmer’s greed to earn more money, followed by competition, followed by fear of being left out. It was only after this cycle of greed, competition and insecurity that farmers found themselves locked into the patented seed problem. Also, the courts would hand out verdicts according to existing laws and the laws are made by the Congress. If the farmers don’t win enough in courts, it is because of the existing laws and government deregulation and not just because somebody could lie or put up more money. I think that the frustration is directed to the wrong target in Roush’s case. He, like Barbara Kowalcyk, could take the battle to the right place: the law makers. Of course, it is easier said than done but I do feel that concerted consumer action and pressure on the lawmakers is perhaps the only way forward. Roush’s comments: