Over the first three
weeks of the course, we will be discussing several theories and theorists. In this section
you will respond to the following questions:
a. Argue for your technology or cultural shift being the source of materialistic or
idealistic change in society. This is not always that straight forward- recall that
even concepts like capitalism can be either materialistic, idealistic or both. In
order to make this argument, you will need to explain the differences between
idealistic and materialistic change.
b. Argue for your example as being part of linear social change, cyclical social
change, or dialectical social change. In order to make this argument, you will need
to explain the differences between these three models.
c. Choose either functionalism, conflict theory or interpretive theories and discuss
how that view would explain your source of social change. In order to do this
well, you will need to explain the differences between them.