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Analysis Of Eight Pernicious Postulates By Charles Tilly

1791 Words8 Pages

Sociology has always been a difficult field of study, because there are so many different methods of data collection and analysis. There isn’t one surefire way – and of course this brings about an array of different complications that can impact the research process. In his book Big Structures, Large Processes, Huge Comparisons, Charles Tilly (1984) mentions of “eight Pernicious Postulates”. This essay will begin with an explanation and critique of these postulates, as well as a comparison of this to Giddens’ proposal for interpretative explanatory accounts, and a critical reflection of my own research process, including if Tilly’s postulates came in contact with my own work.
In an attempt to come up with a stronger method of analysis, Charles …show more content…

Through this study we have acquired new terms like “society, norm, role, status, collective belief” and the like (p.21). Tilly explains that the term society was created by sociologists to justify their work. He believes there is no such thing as distinct societies and the concept was human-made. I understand what Tilly means here. Naming is power. Simply labeling something, in some sort of way, brings it to life. However, I don’t think he is correct in saying there are no “distinct societies” as there are clearly differences in the way that people in different social groups interact with their environment and with each …show more content…

Tilly says that as development (differentiation) occurs, a lot of “repression, socialization, mutual obligation, or consensus” (p.50) must happen. Tilly raises a valid point because history can be erased for a variety of political factors. The assimilation of the First Nations in Canada exemplifies this.
7. Change, strain, disorder
With this postulate, Tilly explains how the push towards differentiation started labeling disapproved behaviors as disorders, as a form of social control. A concept that is well exemplified in therapeutic discourse, Tilly brings up another valid point. For example, at one point in time, homosexuality was labeled a mental disorder and people displaying these behaviors were sent to an asylum, banished from society (in attempt to stop the behavior). These political biases are definitely something we have to be wary of when conducting research.
8. Illegitimate vs. Legitimate

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