About
This course offers an introduction to social scientists' specialized approaches to the study of philanthropy. We will consider the contributions of economics, organization studies, psychology, religious studies, and sociology. The course surveys the issues and diverse roles played by philanthropic acts and actors in society to address social issues such as poverty, and the prominent research questions in the teaching, theory, and practice of philanthropy. Concepts and topics explored include altruism; generosity; reciprocity; voluntary associations; activism; psychological motivations for volunteering and charitable giving; sociological theories of organizations; ethnographic studies of faith communities and institutions; and social capital.
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