Pitirim A. Sorokin's cyclical theory of social change suggests that societies go through predictable stages of birth, growth, maturity, and decline, echoing patterns observed in ancient civilizations. He distinguishes between ideational cultures, which believe in a metaphysical world, and sensate cultures, which focus solely on the visible and material. Sorokin's insights into modern materialism call for greater recognition in understanding social dynamics.

1. THEORY
CYCLICAL
G-1

2. The Sociologist Pitirim A.
Sorokin (1889–1968) is a
remarkable figure whose works
and theories deserve greater
recognition today. Few social
scientists in the 20th century
had keener insight into the
nature and dangers of modern
materialistic culture, and into
what may be done to produce a
more benevolent and
humane world.

3. CYCLICAL
THEORY
Cyclical theory of social change
proposes that societies progress
through predictable life cycle stages of
birth, growth, maturity, and decline.
Theorists like Spengler analyzed the
rise and fall of ancient civilizations like
Egypt, Greece, and Rome and
concluded they all followed a similar
cyclical pattern.

4. TWO TYPES OF
CULTURE
1.
2.
IDEATIONAL
CULTURES
SENSATE
CULTURES

5. IDEATIONAL CULTURES
Ideational cultures are ones that
believe that things exist beyond
what you can see. Their belief
system is one set in the fact that
there is a metaphysical world that
the eye cannot behold. An example
of this type of culture would be one
based on Christianity.

6. SENSATE CULTURE
A sensate culture, also called a
materialistic culture, is a culture that
bases its beliefs on only what is
visible to the eye. Nothing exists
beyond what can be seen. It is a
culture based on science. An
ideational culture is the opposite of a
sensate culture.

7. THANK YOU
THANK YOU