Sociological Theory: Classical Statements / Edition 5

by David Ashley, David Orenstein, David Michael Orenstein

Overview

This book provides a comprehensive examination of classical sociological theory. Each chapter focuses on one theorist and their ideas are organized into a social and historical perspective. Readers will enjoy the background information on each theorist covered in the book. These include such interesting highlights as Comte's days in military school, the death of Durkheim's son in World War I, Spencer's inability to commit to marriage, and Hegel's illegitimate son. Taking a critical and reflexive approach, the book also discusses how classical theory affects sociology today. For anyone interested in sociological theory, social philosophy, or the history of ideas.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780205319404
Publisher:	Allyn & Bacon, Inc.
Publication date:	06/01/2000
Edition description:	Older Edition
Pages:	488
Product dimensions:	7.01(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.43(d)

Table of Contents

1. Ideology, History, and Classical Sociological Theory.
The Rise of Sociology.
Sociology as Science and as Value-Orienting Critique.
The Institutionalization of Sociology.
Enlightenment Philosophy and Classical Sociological Theory.
Social Evolutionism and Classical Sociological Theory.
Sociology and Problems of Modernity.
France: Revolution and Collectivism.
Germany: Disunity and Idealism.
Italy: City-States and Machiavellianism.
Britain: Industrialization and Utilitarianism.
The United States: Expansion and Voluntarism.
The Influence of Class, Race, and Gender on Classical SociologicalThought.

2. The Nature and Types of Sociological Theory.
Theory and Social Life.
Positivism.
Interpretive Theory.
Critical Theory.
Sociology and the Causality of Fate.
Concluding Remarks.

3. (Isidore) Auguste Marie François-Xavier Comte.
Background.
Ideas.
Significance.

4. (David) Emile Durkheim.
Background.
Ideas.
Significance.

5. Herbert Spencer.
Background.
Ideas.
Significance.

6. Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel.
Background.
Ideas.
Significance.

7. Karl Marx.
Background.
Ideas.
Significance.

8. Max Weber.
Background.
Ideas.
Significance.

9. Georg Simmel.
Background.
Ideas.
Significance.

10. Sigmund Freud.
Background.
Ideas.
Significance.

11. Vilfredo Pareto.
Background.
Ideas.
Significance.

12. Thorstein Bunde Veblen.
Background.
Ideas.
Significance.

13. George Herbert Mead.
Background.
Ideas.
Significance.

14. Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche.
Background.
Ideas.
Significance.

15. The Paradoxical Failure of Classical Sociological Theory:A Concluding Essay.
Classical Sociological Theory: The Heritage.
The Contemporary Appropriation of Classical Theory.
Classical Sociological Theory and Contemporary AcademicSociology.
Sociology and Postmodernity.
Concluding Remarks.

Appendix: Classical Theory on the Web.

Name Index.

Editorial Reviews

New edition of a text presenting the context (historical, ideological, national, etc.) of classical sociological theory and discussion of the types of theoretical orientations found in sociological analysis today, followed by individual chapters giving background, ideas, and significance for 11 major thinkers. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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