Examine the Effects of Social Change on the Traditional Ghanaian Family, Economy and Poliyics.
KWAKU FRIMPONG MARFO
SS/BSS/09/0103
Background and introduction
The issue of social change in the world, and for that matter Ghana has been a major concern for most people, especially Sociologists. This essay seeks to examine the effects of social change on the traditional Ghanaian family, economy and politics. Social Change, according to Zanden 1990, is the fundamental alterations in the patterns of cultural structures and patterns of behavior over time. Needless to say, contact with the Europeans, Christians and Muslims as well as colonialism greatly affected and modified indigenous customs, institutions and values. To Sociologists, Social Change is a neutral concept which covers all the historical alterations or variations in human societies and that alterations can be positive or negative. In discussing a topic of like this, it would be built on the following pillars:
1. Background and introduction
2. Theories of Social Change (August Comte)
3. Causes of Social Change
4. Effects of Social Change
5. Conclusion
THEORIES OF SOCIAL CHANGE (AUGUST COMTE)
Comte believed that human societies evolved along a three step evolutionary process. These steps are the Theological, Metaphysical and Scientific or Positivistic stage.
According to Comte, the Theological stage which is the first stage was dominated by priest and dominated by military men. In other words, society members’ places were determined by God or their religion. During this period Comte believed that major idea system emphasized the belief that the super natural powers, religious figures were at the roots of everything. Monotheism is the ultimate belief of the Theological stage.
The second stage which is the Metaphysical stage, according to Comte, is the transitional stage in which mysterious, abstract forces (for example Nature) replaced super natural forces as the powers that explains the workings of the world. This stage corresponds with the period of renaissance when knowledge exploded and all kinds of
SS/BSS/09/0103
Background and introduction
The issue of social change in the world, and for that matter Ghana has been a major concern for most people, especially Sociologists. This essay seeks to examine the effects of social change on the traditional Ghanaian family, economy and politics. Social Change, according to Zanden 1990, is the fundamental alterations in the patterns of cultural structures and patterns of behavior over time. Needless to say, contact with the Europeans, Christians and Muslims as well as colonialism greatly affected and modified indigenous customs, institutions and values. To Sociologists, Social Change is a neutral concept which covers all the historical alterations or variations in human societies and that alterations can be positive or negative. In discussing a topic of like this, it would be built on the following pillars:
1. Background and introduction
2. Theories of Social Change (August Comte)
3. Causes of Social Change
4. Effects of Social Change
5. Conclusion
THEORIES OF SOCIAL CHANGE (AUGUST COMTE)
Comte believed that human societies evolved along a three step evolutionary process. These steps are the Theological, Metaphysical and Scientific or Positivistic stage.
According to Comte, the Theological stage which is the first stage was dominated by priest and dominated by military men. In other words, society members’ places were determined by God or their religion. During this period Comte believed that major idea system emphasized the belief that the super natural powers, religious figures were at the roots of everything. Monotheism is the ultimate belief of the Theological stage.
The second stage which is the Metaphysical stage, according to Comte, is the transitional stage in which mysterious, abstract forces (for example Nature) replaced super natural forces as the powers that explains the workings of the world. This stage corresponds with the period of renaissance when knowledge exploded and all kinds of
References: Adjei J. Kingsley, Come let’s do Social Structure of Ghana, a sociological approach. Nukunya, G. K. Tradition and Change in Ghana, an Introduction to Sociology, Accra, Ghana Universities Press, 1995. http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/sociology