Scholarly work Gerhard Lenski

1 scholarly work

1.1 sociology of religion
1.2 ecological-evolutionary theory
1.3 critique of marxism

scholarly work
sociology of religion

much of lenski s earliest work dealt sociology of religion , culminated in publication of religious factor. defines religion system of beliefs nature of force(s) shaping man s destiny , practices associated therewith, shared members of group. reviewer in commentary described book major achievement in often-neglected subfield, , robert wuthnow has referred volume arguably 1 of handful of classics among contributions american sociologists social scientific study of religion.

in 1958, lenski s empirical inquiry religion s impact on politics, economics, , family life in detroit area revealed, among other insights, there significant differences between catholics on 1 hand , (white) protestants , jews on other hand regard economics , sciences. lenski s findings supported basic hypotheses of max weber s work protestant ethic , spirit of capitalism. according lenski, contributions of protestantism material progress have been largely unintended by-products of distinctive protestant traits. central point in weber s theory. lenski noted more hundred years prior weber, john wesley, 1 of founders of methodist church, had observed diligence , frugality made methodists wealthy. in era, protestant asceticism , dedication work, noted both wesley , weber, seem have been important patterns of action contributing economic progress. both facilitated accumulation of capital, critically important economic growth , development of nations. however, lenski said, asceticism rare among modern protestants, , distinctive protestant doctrine of calling largely forgotten. instead, modern (white) protestants , jews had high degree of intellectual autonomy facilitated scientific , technical advance. contrast, lenski pointed out, catholics developed intellectual orientation valued obedience teachings of church above intellectual autonomy, made them less inclined enter scientific careers. catholic sociologists had come same conclusions.

lenski traced these differences reformation , catholic church s reaction it. in lenski s view, reformation encouraged intellectual autonomy among protestants, in particular anabaptists, puritans, pietists, methodists, , presbyterians. in middle ages, there had been tendencies toward intellectual autonomy, exemplified in men erasmus. after reformation, catholic church leaders increasingly identified these tendencies protestantism , heresy , demanded catholics obedient , faithful ecclesiastical discipline. in lenski s opinion, study showed these differences between protestants , catholics survived present day. consequence, none of predominantly , devoutly catholic nations in modern world can classified leading industrial nation. catholic nations - such france, italy, argentina, brazil, , chile - quite highly industrialized, none of them leaders in technological , scientific fields, nor seem become so. [1963] brazilian catholic social scientists compared country s progress of united states , concluded chief factor responsible differential rates of development religious heritage of 2 nations.

ecological-evolutionary theory

in subsequent publications (power , privilege, 1966; human societies, 1970; , ecological-evolutionary theory, 2006), lenski built on foundations of evolutionary theory laid in 18th century a.r.j. turgot, adam ferguson, john millar, , thomas malthus, , in 19th , 20th centuries lewis henry morgan, leslie white, , charles darwin , many biological evolutionists following him, propose more contemporary ecological , evolutionary theory of societal development stone age present. has viewed cumulation of information, technological information, basic , powerful factor in evolution of human societies (though not one, of critics have claimed). lenski has argued evolution of cultural information extension of evolution of genetic information characteristics of human societies being product of interaction of both genetic , cultural influences.

members of given society united shared , partially distinctive culture , networks of social relationships 1 another. these ties vary in intensity , distinctiveness depending on magnitude of society s store of information , extent of contacts other societies. acquisition of signals, , later, symbols, ancestors of modern humans gained critically important ability share information acquired through individual experience. these , other later advances in technologies of communication , transportation laid foundations major developments in political , economic systems, social inequality, science, ideology, , other spheres of life.

lenski s theory has been received. former president of american political science association, heinz eulau, described power , privilege masterpiece of comparative social analysis , ralf dahrendorf referred imaginative , substantial work [and] indispensable guide. sociological theory devoted issue of journal commentaries on, , appreciations of, work (vol. 22, no. 2, june, 2004).

one feature of lenski s work has won wide acceptance among sociologists, reflected in incorporation leading introductory textbooks in discipline, ecological , evolutionary typology of human societies first proposed in power , privilege , enhanced later in human societies , other publications typology based on combination of 2 elements: (1) kind of environment society must adapt, , (2) level of technological development. in basic form, lenski identifies 7 types of societies:

societies of hunters , gatherers
horticultural societies
agricultural or agrarian societies
industrial societies
fishing societies
herding societies
maritime societies.

these types combined in various ways (for example, industrializing horticultural , agrarian societies, such ghana , brazil in late 20th century) , can usefully subdivided more or less advanced (e.g., simple , advanced horticultural societies).

an important feature of lenski s theory has been emphasis on need broadly inclusive approach in theory building. in 1988 article, argued macrosociological theory should based on our knowledge of entire universe of human societies, past present, , should seek explain major features of universe, both uniformities , variations. undoubtedly feature of theory many sociologists find troubling , unattractive because of tradition developed in american sociology in twentieth century of focusing theory , research on 1 s own society during limited time period (i.e., american society in 20th century) or handful of societies (e.g., modern industrial societies) during equally limited span of time.

critique of marxism

another notable feature of lenski s work has been interest in marxist societies. grew out of concern forces shaping societal development. karl marx, had major influence on sociological thought in mid-twentieth century, had optimistic view of human nature reflected in belief in inevitability of communism in future when governing principle in human societies each according ability, each according need. lenski viewed marxist societies of 20th century important, neglected, social experiments put marx s view of human nature test , found wanting. earlier work in 1950s on status inconsistency (i.e. social class divisions , ethnic tension , discrimination) had received positive reception among number of influential eastern european sociologists found more effective tool communist party s official model analyzing , understanding realities of social inequality in societies, while @ same time providing useful tool challenging increasingly unacceptable communist social order.