Overview
explain, analyze and/or understand some social
phenomenon.
In short, you will choose some social behavior or phenomenon and assess it according to two of
the explanatory or interpretive approaches discussed in the Hollis text.
You might choose to analyze some large-scale social structure or belief system like a religious
practice, political or economic movement. You could investigate reasons offered for why people
have religious beliefs, what function they serve or what social meanings are carried by them.
You might also go smaller scale: Explain why people shop excessively, why we go camping
(when it’s dirty), or why we watch sports, or why the United States has become so politically
polarized. In the middle, you could explain the failings of the American education system, why
people rushed to buy automatic weapons after the Las Vegas shooting, or you might seek to
explain the “Arab Spring.” You might explain why American teens like bad vampire movies, or
why everyone raced out to by toilet paper when the global pandemic started. Conspiracy theories
are fun – the anti-mask movement, anything from QAnon.
Once you choose a social phenomenon, you will analyze it in two ways:
First you will attempt to explain it according to a functionalist/structuralist approach. In doing
this, you should first explain Durkheim’s approach to social explanation. Explain what that is
and how one goes about explaining social phenomenon according to this approach. Then attempt
to apply it to your example. There may be some guesswork involved here; that is okay. What I
want you to do is try to imagine how a Durkheimian would explain the phenomenon. Apply the
relevant concepts; speculate on the social facts that might be appealed to.
Second, you will take a Wittgensteinian/Winchean approach to understanding your social
phenomenon. Here, you will want explain Wittgenstein’s approach (or the hermeneutic approach
in general) and then apply it to your example. Analyze the meaning system that people operate
according to and how it might inform their behavior.
Lastly, compare and contrast these two approaches. Does one work better than the other? Can
they be combined? What do you think is the best explanation of the phenomenon you have
analyzed?
While this topic is covered later in the book (Ch 11), you might also seek to explain some
practice held by members of another culture. We read the classic example of Evans Pritchard’s
analysis of witchcraft among the Azande. People in different cultures have different beliefs. You
might try to explain why so many Germans believe that David Hasselhoff is a singer. This might
also be extended to attempt to explain any practice or belief that is quite foreign to us (even if in
our own culture) like belief in alien abductions or why people go bowling.
Social and environmental problems offer cases: why is there gang violence? Why do people
drive SUV’s even if they are destroying the environment? Why is text messaging so popular?
Why chase virtual Pokemon? Be creative. Just about any group behavior might offer possibilities
for explanation. Why are we obsessed with smart-phones? Why do we read websites telling us
about the lives of celebrities? Why do we shop at Walmart? Why do dance clubs exist? Why do
people join fraternities? Why does anyone pay attention to Kim Kardashian? Why are so many
people afraid of the apocalypse? Why is Nascar popular? Why do Raiders fans cry upon learning
their team is moving to Las Vegas? Why was there an insurrection on January 6?
Whatever you do, the essay should feature four things prominently: 1) the social phenomenon to
be explained or understood, 2) A structural explanation of the social phenomenon based on
Durkheim’s approach, 3) A meaning analysis of the phenomenon based on Wittgenstein’s
approach, 4) Your assessment of the explanatory strategies and the phenomenon.
In covering 2 and 3, refer directly to the Hollis text. Do not use other sources for Durkheim
or Wittgenstein.