TEORIE SOCIOLOGICHE E MODELLI DELLA COMPLESSITA'

Course Structure

• Main sociological theories in the contemporary debate

  -

• Sociological Analysis of Complex Systems

  The Course is divided into 6CFU. Lectures are held from March to May, on Monday and Wednesday (18 lectures). Frequency is recommended. Exams are in oral mode.

Detailed Course Content

• Main sociological theories in the contemporary debate

  -

• Sociological Analysis of Complex Systems

  The course is aimed at explaining the contents of a systemic approach oriented to complexity from an epistemological, sociological and methodological point of view, providing orientation criteria with respect to critical reflection in the last decades. Conceptual categories by which Complexity Science has innovated, with respect to the classical scientific approach, the conceptualization of systems' operation and evolution processes and intervention procedures, will be analyzed, applying these cognitive tools to interpretation social systems as complex systems and to the use of methodologies based on non-linearity, specifically the non-linear equations with a logistic structure, for the study of change and innovation / intervention processes of social systems (analysis of social complexity in political, organizational and sociological fields, for the study of social control processes and social integration issues in individualized and globalized modern society). In this regard, particular attention will be given to social predictability issue, delineating, in the light of Complexity, limits and new possibilities. At the end of the course students will have gained awareness of a new contemporary scientific landscape, characterized by a Sciences’ unification process, and will have matured theoretical and methodological skills in order to analyze and interpret appropriately dynamics of contemporary society in its today's qualification as complex society

Textbook Information

• Main sociological theories in the contemporary debate

  Book 1: Bettin Lattes G., Raffini L. (a cura di) 2011, Manuale di sociologia, Cedam, 2 volumi (solo i capitoli Modernità, Individualizzazione e Globalizzazione)

  Book 2: Ghisleni M., Privitera W. (a cura di), 2009, Sociologie contemporanee, Utet (tutto il volume)

• Sociological Analysis of Complex Systems

  1. Bertuglia C., Vaio F., Nonlinearità, caos, complessità. Le dinamiche dei sistemi naturali e sociali, Bollati Boringhieri, Torino, 2003, pp. 261-349.
  2. Bocchi H., Ceruti M., La sfida della complessità, Bruno Mondadori, Milanio, 2007, pp.1-19; pp.155-169, pp. 170-183..

  3. Bailey K., “Beyond Functionalism:Towards a Nonequilibrium Analysis of Complex Social Systems”, British Journal of Sociology, 35, 1984, pp.1-18.

  4. Condorelli, R. (2016). Complex Systems Theory. Some Considerations for Sociology. Open Journal of Applied Sciences 6, 422.

  5. Horgan J., La fine della scienza, Adelphi, Milano 2015, Cap.8. La fine della Complessità, pp.293-244.

  6. Condorelli R., Complessità e controllo sociale, Bonanno Editore, Catania, 2007, pp.53-90; pp. 91-124.

  7. Condorelli R (2016) Social Complexity, Modernity and Suicide: An Assessment of Durkheim’s Suicide from the Perspective of a Non-linear Analysis of Complex Social Systems. SpringerPlus 5:374.

  8. Mitleton-Kelly, E. (2003). Complex Systems and Evolutionary Perspectives on Organisations: The Application of Complexity Theory to Organisations. London: Elsevier, Cap 2.

  Suggested readings

  De Toni A., Comello L., Prede o ragni? Uomini e organizzazioni nella ragnatela della complessità. Utet, Torino, 2005.

  Prigogine I., La fine delle certezze, Bollati Boringhieri, Torino, edizione 2009