Page 172 - DSOC401_SOCIOLOGICAL_THOUGHT_ENGLISH

Sociological Thought Sukanya Das, Lovely Professional University

notes unit-29: theory of Derivatives

contents
Objectives
Introduction
29.1 Derivation
29.2 Summary
29.3 Keywords
29.4 Review Questions
29.5 Further Reading

objectives

After studying this unit, the students will be able to:
y Understand the meaning of derivatives and explain their types,
y Attain the knowledge of conformity, power, assertion and oral proof of sentiments.

introduction

Usually there are two aspects of human behaviour- stable and unstable or variable aspect. Pareto has
called the variable aspect as derivatives.

29.1 Derivations

Here, we will again repeat Pareto. Defining sociology he had said that it is that social science which
studies irrational activities. For studying these activities he brings in use rational experimental method.
Those activities which are rational, their study, Pareto says, is done by economics. Whatever behaviours
are out of the field of rational activities, they are irrational and their study and only their study is
done by sociology. Further to this, Pareto says that irrational activities are made of derivatives and
residues. Going further when Pareto puts forward the theory of circulation of elites, he describes it
through the medium of residues and derivatives.
Let us now come back to the description of derivatives. Bogaurds, describing derivatives has said that
whatever emotional or passionate behaviour humans do, their reasonableness may be established
through derivatives. When a person does his activities then society has some expectation from those
activities. When there is a difference the expectations of the society and the person’s activities, then
the person tries to present the reasonableness of his activities. Presenting this reasonableness only is
derivatives.

Task What is known as derivatives? Describe in brief.

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