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Compare and contrast conflict theory with structural functionalism
Similarities between the structural functionalist theory with the conflict theory author pdf
Genetically modified food is a controversial issue
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INTRODUCTION: This paper applies a comparative sociology framework with qualitative methodology to the case of GMOs to inform discussions regarding balancing individual freedom and economic freedom in society. The comparative sociology framework of a structural functionalism and conflict theory is applied to the case of GMOs. The purpose of this investigation is to analyze how GMOs affect the balance between economic progress and social stability. The perspectives of both the conflict and structural functionalist theories on GMOs are portrayed. The method being utilized is a qualitative case study using document analysis of internet and other computer searches. Following the introduction, there is a brief discussion of the theory and methods. …show more content…
The structural functionalist theory can best be described as seeing society as a complex system with many independent actors that come together as a whole to create stability (Ritzer 2007). In this theory the belief is all things work together for the system whether good or bad. The structural functionalist theory concentrates on the positive and negative functions of social structures (Keel 2012). For the structural functionalists, science is their truth and their answer. This frame sheds light on the functions of genetically modified foods in society. It explains the creation of GMO and how they can work for everyone’s greater interest. Conflict theory affirms the idea of intimidation and power being used in order to gain social order (Crossman 2012). In other words, when there is an attempt to dominate others, conflict arises to prevent domination. The structural functionalists are the proponents and conflict theorists are the opponents of genetically modified foods. These theories can be summed up as structural functionalism is beneficial to all while conflict is beneficial to …show more content…
This methodology provides tools that allow the researcher to analyze the data acquired through research (Baxter 2008). The researcher gains tremendous insight of the case being studied. The data collected represents the scholarly articles and readings found in relation to the “pros” and “cons” of GMOs. During the process of a qualitative case study, data becomes the evidence (Miller 2003). The data gathered is research from search engines, databases, and journals. The data accumulated was printed and sorted according to topics. It was carefully analyzed, highlighted, and labeled based on what information was being used for each section. These sections include the following: “What is GMO”, “The history of the GMO”, “The position of the advocates of GMOs”, “The position of opponents to GMOs”, “Case study of controversy”, and “Analysis and Discussion”. This allowed the information to be organized and easy accessible in the writing process. By doing a qualitative study, valuable and useful information was gathered that helps further explain what is being
Functionalism views society as the stability and assimilation of a range of forces that function within it. While society is a separate entity with a life of its own, there are individual elements contributing to that stability. Functionalism as a sociological theory emphasizes assimilation rather than the dissociation of society. Therefore, the society is seen as a whole that is compromised of parts which give one another their identity and their function. The part, whether that is education, such as a school, or sports, such as a football team, operates in relation to the other parts, and cannot be entirely understood in isolation from the other parts. All the parts are interrelated, and when there is a disturbance in any one of the parts, is when you can see the interdependence. But what is important about this theory is that “there will always be some reorganization and tendency to restore equilibrium” (Wallace and Wolf 17). Functionalist do not believe it’s crucial that the people involved in the society to be aware of this interconnectedness anymore than the brain and heart consciously realize that they work together as an organism.
Genetically modified food is a significant issue that America is currently dealing with; it has affected millions around the world. Genetically modified food is crops, plants, and animals whose DNA has been altered for agricultural and nutritional reasons. In the Alltime Conspiracies video, “How Dangerous Are GMO Food” he argues that GMOs can have budding effect on humans, and the more we consume the more damage that is being done to our DNA cells. The author Alltime Conspiracy begins building his credibility with personal facts plus highly regarded sources, citing credible facts and statistics,
The focus on how social structures determine, and are effective in maintaining the equilibrium is functionalism or structural-functionalism, which is the theorizing of Durkheim and Parsons (Dillon, book, 179). What this means is that we need to look at the structures effectiveness of social structures and make sure that it is at a satisfying state of equilibrium. An example of this would be the human body, we have many different organs and they all work together to produce the fully functional human. What it comes down to is, everything has its own place in society and even if a conflict is introduced, there is a way of working itself out and the society will go back to functioning normally.
Genetically modified food’s, or GMOs, goal is to feed the world's malnourished and undernourished population. Exploring the positive side to GMOs paints a wondrous picture for our planet’s future, although careful steps must be taken to ensure that destruction of our ecosystems do not occur. When GMOs were first introduced into the consumer market they claimed that they would help eliminate the world’s food crisis by providing plants that produced more and were resistant to elemental impacts like droughts and bacterial contaminants, however, production isn’t the only cause for the world’s food crisis. Which is a cause for concern because the population on the earth is growing and our land and ways of agriculture will not be enough to feed everyone sufficiently. No simple solutions can be found or applied when there are so many lives involved. Those who are hungry and those who are over fed, alike, have to consider the consequences of Genetically Modified Organisms. Food should not be treated like a commodity it is a human necessity on the most basic of levels. When egos, hidden agendas, and personal gains are folded into people's food sources no one wins. As in many things of life, there is no true right way or wrong way to handle either of the arguments and so many factors are involved that a ‘simple’ solution is simply not an option.
In the persuasive article “Quit Being Afraid of GMOs”, Writer Samira Bandaru responds to the exigence and constraints of a rhetorical situation related to negative perceptions of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The article’s exigence is the widespread belief that GMOs pose a threat to one’s health and the environment. This negative perception prompts Bandaru to argue that GMOs can have health benefits and could help counter worldwide struggles like malnutrition, which is especially key as the world’s population rises. For example, Bandaru mentions that modifying grains to increase iron amounts in flour reduces anemia, the world’s “most common nutritional disorder”, showing that GMOs can offer solutions to major, worldwide dilemmas.
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) are taken over a huge portion of today’s society. It is a pretty difficult task in determining the difference between whether a food product is a part of the GMO family or if it is a regular food product that has not been scientifically worked on. “When a gene from one organism is purposely moved to improve or change another organism in a laboratory, it results in the process of genetically modified organisms” (Chien, n.d., para.1). A few products that are typically GMO are cotton seeds, jatropha (used in feeding livestock), rice, soy, sugar beets, yeast, alfalfa (source of nitrogen for the soil), artificial additives, preservatives, sweeteners, tomatoes, salmon, and the list continues on (Top 20 Foods and Products that have been Genetically Modified, n.d., p.1 ). Speaking of “Genetically Modified Organisms, the author of “Spinning Spider Webs from Goat’s Milk-The Magic of Genetic Science” explains how GMO is used to create spider silk. In the author’s writing she targets to those who do not have much knowledge of GMOs. To target to those, she brakes in down into terms the audience can understand. To propose her writing, Thersea Bilbao uses the rhetorical structure to guide the reader
Functionalism is a theory of contemporary philosophy of the mind, designed to provide a solution to behaviourism and identity theory, but more importantly a solution to the mind/body problem. In this essay I will discuss the theory of functionalism, and what solution it offers in resolving the mind/body problem. The mind/body problem examines the relationship between the mind and physical matter, more specifically the relationship between consciousness and the brain that other theories of the mind have failed to account for. Solutions to the mind body problem attempt to explain one’s subjective experience of an objective physical world.
Considering an argument as valid requires critical analysis of several aspects and providing strong evidence. Robin Mather, a journalist who “has passion for food and its sources, has worked at major metropolitan newspapers (the Detroit News, the Chicago Tribune)”(86), argues that GMOs have risks and hazards to human health and threats to wildlife and environment in her article “The Threats from Genetically Modified Foods”, whereas Entine, a colleague at the Genetic Literacy Project, and Wendel, a science writer(82), claim that GMOs are safe to eat and no harm to people or animals in their article “2000+Reasons Why GMOs are Safe to Eat and Environmentally Sustainable” Both articles’ authors state their ideas clearly for whether GMOs could be eaten or not. However, Mather provides more solid
Functionalism is a materialist stance in the philosophy of mind that argues that mental states are purely functional, and thus categorized by their input and output associations and causes, rather than by the physical makeup that constitutes its parts. In this manner, functionalism argues that as long as something operates as a conscious entity, then it is conscious. Block describes functionalism, discusses its inherent dilemmas, and then discusses a more scientifically-driven counter solution called psychofunctionalism and its failings as well. Although Block’s assertions are cogent and well-presented, the psychofunctionalist is able to provide counterarguments to support his viewpoint against Block’s criticisms. I shall argue that though both concepts are not without issue, functionalism appears to satisfy a more acceptable description that philosophers can admit over psychofunctionalism’s chauvinistic disposition that attempts to limit consciousness only to the human race.
The most wonderful activity a human being can experience is new flavors and foods. For example, the first time a person tastes a delicious juicy piece of prime rib or a delightful hamburger with cheese and ham, his world is never the same. However, since the beginning of the twentieth century, the production of food has been supplemented by science. This has triggered an angry dispute between the people who support the advances of biotechnology and people who love nature. In order to understand the controversy, we have to know the meaning of genetically modified foods. With new technological advances, scientists can modify seeds from a conventional seed to a high tech seed with shorter maturation times and resistance to dryness, cold and heat. This is possible with the implementation of new genes into the DNA of the conventional seed. Once these "transgenes" are transferred, they can create plants with better characteristics (Harris 164-165). The farmers love it not only because it guarantees a good production, but the cost is also reduced. On the other hand, organizations such as Greenpeace and Friends of Earth have campaigned against GMO (“Riesgos”) because they think that they are negatively affecting the earth (Gerdes 26). Both the advocates and the opponents of genetically modified foods have excellent arguments.
“Genetically modified foods are a "Pandora's box" of known and unknown risks to humans and the environment. They have been forced onto the American public by multinational biotech and agribusiness corporations without adequate oversight and regulation by the United States government (Driscoll, SallyMorley, David C).”Genetically Modified Food is food which has been chemically altered by scientists during the production process to give the food more nutrients, better appearance, and a longer shelf-life (Rich, Alex K.Warhol, Tom). The importance of this issue is that these GMO’s can actually have a negative effect in our society in general. It could mutate in a negative way and cause cancer or other diseases. Genetically modified food should be strictly controlled due to its various detrimental effects on the environment, human health, and potentially insect/animal effects.
Structural Functionalism or what I call just functionalism, is just another theory that has society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability. This approach looks at society through the macro-level of orientation, which is a broad focus on the social structures that shape society as a whole, and believes that society has evolved like organisms. This approach looks at both social structure and the social functions. Functionalism has society as a whole in terms of the function of its constituent elements; namely norms and customs, traditions, and institutions. There is a common analogy, popularized by Herbert Spencer that presents these parts of society as "organs" that works towards the proper functioning of the "body" as a whole. In the most basic terms, it simply emphasizes "the effort to impute and the rigorously as possible, to each feature, custom, or even practice the effect on the functioning of a supposedly stable and cohesive system.
In social science, Functionalism is the theory that put pressure on the dependence of the patterns and institutions of our society and her interaction by preserving her cultural and society unity. In Sociology, functionalism came from the sociologist EMILE DURKHEIM, who viewed our society as a sort of “ORGANISM” that brings with it certain “needs” that must be complete. The American sociologist Talcott Parsons analysed very extensive societies with regards to their social order, integration and stability.
The research paper will clarify both ideas of functionalism and structuralism by utilizing the dualist planned to clarify the interaction and example between both these speculations with the brain and body. Also there will be a clarification of how both functionalism and structuralism have affected the act of brain research in times. At that point there will be a clarification about how both these hypotheses are expected to depict our cognizant personality and how they associate with the body. Goodwin explained that structuralism were more concerned about awareness and the fundamental objectives for Structuralism brain research are to study the encounters in the human aware and separate them into their basic units, which indicate how these
1.Explain the three dominant sociological theories discussed in class. How do they impact our understanding/explanation of social phenomena?