Sociology

In the lecture, selected classical concepts of European sociology are taught, focusing on the German sociological tradition. Starting with the tradition of understanding sociology and the basic concepts of social action, the interactive constitution of meaning (Max Weber) and social interactions (Georg Simmel), central theses of the sociology of knowledge and culture (Alfred Schütz, Pierre Bourdieu) with the basic concepts of communicative and conjunctive experience, constructive, communicative practices, practical meaning, habitus and milieu are conveyed in the further course. In addition, basic concepts of political sociology based on Critical Theory and some later authors (Ulrich Beck) are introduced. Students should independently develop the competencies for systematic observation of social and interactive contexts in the exercise part. This is done using selected contemporary sociological issues as examples: Dealing with modern technologies and media, developments in the labour market, developments in a consumer society, dealing with history and historical trauma, postmodern and posthumanist developments.