Marx, Durkheim, Weber: Formations of Modern Social Thought / Edition 2

by Kenneth Morrison

Overview

This Second Edition is a thoroughly revised, expanded version of the bestselling student text in classical social theory. Author Kenneth Morrison provides an authoritative, accessible undergraduate guide to the three pivotal figures in the classical tradition. Readable and stimulating, the Second Edition of Marx, Durkheim, Weber: Formations of Modern Social Thought explains the key ideas of these thinkers and situates them in their historical and philosophical contexts.

 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780761970569
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	07/21/2006
Edition description:	Second Edition
Pages:	480
Product dimensions:	7.32(w) x 9.13(h) x (d)

About the Author

Ken Morrison is Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at Wilfred Laurier University, Ontario, Canada

Table of Contents

PART ONE: INTRODUCTION
The Origins and Foundations of Modern Social Theory: 1750-1920
Modern Social Theory Defined
The Central Subject Matter of Social Theory
PART TWO: KARL MARX
The Historical Context of Karl Marx's Work
The Shift to Materialism
The German Ideology
Marx's Economic Works: 1850-1867
Capital Volume One, Part A
Economic and Social Elements of Capitalism
Capital Volume One, Part B
The Theory of Value
Capital Volume One, Part C
Theory of Surplus Value
Capital Volume One, Part D
The Genesis of Capitalism
Theory of Alienation
Marx's Theory of Alienation and the 1844 Manuscripts
Marx's Political Writings
Marx's Dialectical View of History
The Theory of Development
PART THREE: EMILE DURKHEIM
The Historical Context of Emile Durkheim's Work
The Division of Labor in Society
The Rules of Sociological Method
Durkheim's Study of Suicide
The Elementary Form of the Religious Life
PART FOUR: MAX WEBER
The Historical Context of Max Weber's Work
Weber's Theoretical Perspective and Fundamental Themes in His Work
The Theme of Capitalism in Weber's Work
Weber's Theory of Class, Status and Party
Weber's Concept of the Status Group
The Separation of Status from Class
The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism
Weber's Methodology and the Theory of Knowledge in the Social Sciences
The Theory of Legitimate Domination
Weber's Political Writings
Weber's Study of Bureaucracy

Editorial Reviews

‘This is an excellent introduction to classical social theory. It makes complex ideas highly accessible and attractive without resorting to simplification. Students of classical social theory and their lecturers will welcome this lucid, comprehensive text. For most students, it is the only book on the subject they will need. The book sets new standards for texts in this area and it will be a difficult act to follow.

The book is marked by an acute awareness of and sensitivity to the philosophical and historical background to the ideas covered.

Thus, the historical influences on many of the concepts are clearly articultated so that the reader is given a clear appreciation of some of the factors that impinged on the timing of the emergence of many of the ideas of these three founding fathers.

The impact of the philosophical background is carried forward into the chapters on the individual thinkers. This is an area that lecturers often try to get across to students but which the latter, not unreasonably, find difficult. Morrison's expositions are excellent in this respect.

The Glossary is an excellent idea and will be widely used. It substantially enhances the book's attractiveness to students' - Alan Bryman, Professor of Sociology, University of Loughborough

From the Publisher