Sociological Theory in the Classical Era : Text and Readings

by Laura Desfor Edles

• ISBN13: 9781412975643
• ISBN10: 1412975646
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-10-09
• Publisher: SAGE Publications, Inc

Summary

Trained at UCLA and at NYU respectively, Laura Desfor Edles and Scott Appelrouth were frustrated by their inability to find a sociological theory text that could inspire enthusiasm in undergraduate students while providing them with analytical tools for understanding theory and exposing them to original writings from pivotal theorists. They developed this widely used text/reader to fill that need. This affordable text/reader hybrid introduces students to original major writings from sociology's key classical theorists as well as from a variety of other voices, and also provides a helpful theoretical and historical framework, written by the editors, with which to understand those often intimidating readings. In addition to presenting a unique format, this book is one of the only theory texts to feature photos and diagrams, making it even more student friendly. New and Retained Features The book's praised text/reader format provides students with the interpretive and analytical guidance necessary to interpret the included original readings. The book is updated throughout, with new readings added to the Weber, Marx, and Durkheim chapters . A theoretical framework presented in Chapter 1 gives students a visual means to understand the theorists and perspectives that follow. Theoretical Orientation Diagrams and Core Concepts Diagrams , now even more visually appealing, show students how to fit the theorist under study into the broader universe of social theory. 'œ Significant Others ' boxes, including 5 new ones, provide information on theorists who may have followed and derived much of their own perspective from the major theorists featured in each chapter. The ends of chapters include even more discussion questions in this edition. Unlike other texts, each chapter includes photos of theorists and of the historical milieu from which the theories arose , along with applications to contemporary scenes. In particular, the Du Bois chapter includes a new photo of President Obama.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations and Photos

List of Figures and Tables

About the Authors

Preface

Introduction

What Is Sociological Theory?

Why Read Original Works?

Who Are Sociology's Core Theorists?

How Can We Navigate Sociological Theory?

Discussion Questions

Karl Marx

A Biographical Sketch

Intellectual Influences and Core Ideas

Significant Others--Thorstein Veblen (1857-1929): The Leisure Class and Conspicuous Consumption

Marx's Theoretical Orientation

Significant Others--Antonio Gramsci (1891-1937): Hegemony and the Ruling Ideas

Readings

Introduction to The German Ideology

From The German Ideology (1845-1846)

Introduction to Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844

From Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844

Introduction to The Communist Manifesto

From The Communist Manifesto (1848)

Introduction to Capital

From Capital (1867)

Introduction to Friedrich Engels's The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State

From The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State (1884)

Discussion Questions

Émile Durkheim

A Biographical Sketch

Intellectual Influences and Core Ideas

Significant Others--Auguste Comte (1798-1857): The Father of "Social Physics"

Significant Others--Herbert Spencer (1820-1903): Survival of the Fittest

Durkheim's Theoretical Orientation

Readings

Introduction to The Division of Labor in Society

From The Division of Labor in Society (1893)

Introduction to The Rules of Sociological Method

From The Rules of Sociological Method (1895)

Introduction to Suicide: A Study in Sociology

From Suicide: A Study in Sociology (1897)

Introduction to The Elementary Forms of Religious Life

From The Elementary Forms of Religious Life (1912)

Discussion Questions

Max Weber

A Biographical Sketch

Intellectual Influences and Core Ideas

Significant Others--Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900): Is God Dead?

Significant Others--Robert Michels (1876-1936): The Iron Law of Oligarchy

Weber's Theoretical Orientation

Readings

Introduction to The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism

From The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism (1904)

Introduction to "The Social Psychology of the World Religions"

From "The Social Psychology of the World Religions" (1915)

Introduction to "The Distribution of Power Within the Political Community: Class, Status, Party"

"The Distribution of Power Within the Political Community: Class, Status, Party" (1925)

Introduction to "The Types of Legitimate Domination"

From "The Types of Legitimate Domination" (1925)

Introduction to "Bureaucracy"

From "Bureaucracy" (1925)

Discussion Questions

Charlotte Perkins Gilman

A Biographical Sketch

Significant Others--Harriet Martineau (1802-76): The First Woman Sociologist

Intellectual Influences and Core Ideas

Gilman's Theoretical Orientation

Readings

Introduction to "The Yellow Wallpaper"

"The Yellow Wallpaper" (1892)

"Why I Wrote 'The Yellow Wallpaper'"

Introduction to Women and Economics

From Women and Economics (1898)

Discussion Questions

Georg Simmel

A Biographical Sketch

Intellectual Influences and Core Ideas

Significant Others--Ferdinand Tönnies (1855-1936): Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft

Simmel's Theoretical Orientation

Readings

Introduction to "Exchange"

From "Exchange," From The Philosophy of Money (1907)

Introduction to "Conflict"

From "Conflict," From Sociology (1908)

Introduction to "Sociability"

From "Sociability" (1910)

Introduction to "The Stranger"

From "The Stranger," From Sociology (1908)

Introduction to "Fashion"

From "Fashion" (1904)

Introduction to "The Metropolis and Mental Life"

From "The Metropolis and Mental Life" (1903)

Discussion Questions

W. E. B. Du Bois

Significant Others--Anna Julia Cooper (1858-1964): A Voice From the South

A Biographical Sketch

Intellectual Influences and Core Ideas

Du Bois's Theoretical Orientation

Readings

Introduction to The Philadelphia Negro

From The Philadelphia Negro (1899)

Introduction to The Souls of Black Folk

From The Souls of Black Folk (1903)

Introduction to "The Souls of White Folk"

From "The Souls of White Folk," From Darkwater (1920)

Discussion Questions

George Herbert Mead

A Biographical Sketch

Intellectual Influences and Core Ideas

Significant Others--Charles Horton Cooley (1864-1929): The "Looking-Glass Self"

Significant Others--William James (1842-1910): Consciousness and the Self

Mead's Theoretical Orientation

Readings

Introduction to "Mind"

From "Mind," From Mind, Self, and Society (1934)

Introduction to "Self"

From "Self," From Mind, Self, and Society (1934)

Introduction to "Society"

From "Society," From Mind, Self, and Society (1934)

Discussion Questions

References

Photo Credits

Index

Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

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