William Sumner and Sociology - 1103 Words

This paper will summarize the life of William Sumner and his impact in the field of sociology. It will give a brief background from his birth, to his education, and end with his profession or career. His many contributions to further the field of sociology will be discussed; such as his theories, teachings, and books. The paper will also mention his major influence as well as those he influenced. His interests and pastimes will also be included. Introduction William Graham Sumner was an American historian, economists, political theorist, sociologist, and anthropologist, from New Jersey. Sumner came from a poor and uneducated family but went on to graduate from Yale University and study at Oxford and Gottingen. He was a distinguished writer of numerous books including his most popular Folkways. He made major contributions to sociology that includes the concept of ethnocentrism, the term folkways, and the term mores. Sumner was influenced by his parents but his major influence i n the field of sociology was the English sociologist Herbert Spencer. Also, he influenced many people through his books, essays, and speeches. There are many surprising and interesting facts about William Sumner such as his time as an ordained minister and traveling to Europe to further his studies. Background William Graham Sumner was born on October 30, 1840 in Paterson, New Jersey. He is the son of Thomas Sumner and Sarah Graham. His mother died when William Sumner was eight yearsShow MoreRelatedWilliam Sumner And Jane Addams910 Words   |  4 Pagesis much better off than they were many years ago. William Sumner and Jane Addams were two talented writers, who had different outlooks on social class. William Graham Sumner wrote â€Å"What Social Classes Owe to Each Other† in 1883. Sumner essential question that he asking is, â€Å"What do social classes owe to each other?† he is ultimately saying that they owe each other nothing. In the book he asks vital important questions, which makes you ponder. Sumner was a sociologist at Yale University and a greatRead MoreThe Social Darwinism Of The World War I1311 Words   |  6 Pagescompetition, spread around the globe and found special homes in Germany and the United States. In the United States, a man called William Sumner dressed up Darwinism in the robes of social science. Sumner, who drew much of his philosophy from Herbert Spencer, attempted to portray the struggle for survival as a progressive force in society. In his short essay Sociology, Sumner argues that providing support for the poor is equivalent to subverting natural selection and destroying civilization. Thus, theRead MoreCrime and Punishment Essay1717 Words   |  7 PagesCrime at its simplest is an act prohibited by law upon pain of punishment (Hall-Williams 1964). Theorists such as McCabe (1983:49) stated that no word in legal and criminological terms could define the word crime for the varying content in which an act is categorised. Due to the broad spectrum surrounding crime, differing understandings about human subjects and premises lead to the development of several theories, assumptions and forms of criminal law. Michael and Adler (1933:2) are often citedRead MoreEthnocentrism Is A Basic Attitude Expressing The Belief That One? S Own Culture Essay1731 Words   |  7 Pagesexpressing the belief that one?s own ethnic group or one?s own culture is superior to other ethnic groups or cultures, and that one?s cultural standards can be applied in a universal manner. The term was first used by the American sociologist William Graham Sumner (1840?1910) to describe the view that one?s own culture can be considered central, while other cultures or religious traditions are reduced to a less prominent role. Ethnocentrism is closely related to other attitudinal indicators for racismRead MoreCultural Relativsim vs. Ethnocentrism1190 Words   |  5 Pagesethnocentrism is: Belief in the intrinsic superiority of the nation, culture, or group to which one belongs, often accompanied by feelings of dislike for other groups (ethnocentrism, 2014). The founder of the concept/ principle of ethnocentrism is William Sumner. He believed that the only way for a culture to stay the same is to guard it from outside influences (asanet.org). Ethnocentrism has more negative consequences than positive consequences. The positive aspect of ethnocentrism is that people whoRead MoreSociology : A Sociological Perspective1292 Words   |  6 PagesOrigins of Sociology Ashley Drees Ivy Tech Community College Professor Brosmer April 10,2016 What is Sociology Sociology  is the  study of  social behavior or society, including its origins, development, organization, networks, and institutions. Sociology is a social science that uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about social order, disorder, and change. Three Main Theoretical Perspectives in Sociology Functional Perspective Read MoreReaction Paper About Monetary Policy3087 Words   |  13 Pages1. 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His ideal, Social Darwinism, like the ideas of Carnegie, involved the idea of there being people in society who are deserving, and those who are undeserving. Unlike Carnegie, however, he assumes all those of lower of wealth are â€Å"worse† thanRead MoreThe American War Of 18981372 Words   |  6 Pagessupporters, viewed imperialism as beneficial or harmful to the oppressed people and the oppressor nation. Many individuals held the belief that imperialism was necessary not only to America, but to the well-being of the acquired territories. President William McKinley accurately conveyed the sentiment of pro-imperialists when he spoke to a church delegation about the reasons for acquiring the Philippines. He expresses that the United States could not return them to Spain for fear of appearing â€Å"cowardlyRead MoreExercise 3: White Collar Crime. In A Looking Glass Of A1448 Words   |  6 Pagesmanipulation to gain these unclaimed resources and keep what they already have possession over. Even though dealing with criminal acts these actions are pushed aside in order to gain and meet quotas and social statues. All these aspects are seen in the sociology world and can be seen in the roles presented in the Libor Scandal. Oddly enough not many white collar criminals have faced serious prison time due to these crimes, this is due to moral ethics and norms of our world constantly changing. Due to many