Sociological Theory: Classical Statements

by Ashley, David; Orenstein, David Michael

• ISBN13: 9780205319404
• ISBN10: 0205319408
• Edition: 5th
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2001-01-01
• Publisher: Allyn & Bacon

Summary

This text provides a comprehensive examination of classical sociological theory by introducing students to the individuals who created it. Each chapter focuses on one theorist and their ideas, organized into a social and historical perspective. Students will enjoy reading 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 text also discusses how classical theory affects sociology today.

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
Ideology, History, and Classical Sociological Theory	1	(28)
The Rise of Sociology	1	(2)
Sociology as Science and as Value-Orienting Critique	3	(2)
The Institutionalization of Sociology	5	(2)
Enlightenment Philosophy and Classical Sociological Theory	7	(4)
Social Evolutionism and Classical Sociological Theory	11	(4)
Sociology and Problems of Modernity	15	(2)
France: Revolution and Collectivism	17	(2)
Germany: Disunity and Idealism	19	(1)
Italy: City-States and Machiavellianism	20	(1)
Britain: Industrialization and Utilitarianism	21	(2)
The United States: Expansion and Voluntarism	23	(1)
The Influence of Class, Race, and Gender on Classical Sociological Thought	24	(5)
The Nature and Types of Sociological Theory	29	(18)
Theory and Social Life	29	(3)
Positivism	32	(5)
Interpretive Theory	37	(3)
Critical Theory	40	(2)
Sociology and the Causality of Fate	42	(1)
Concluding Remarks	43	(4)
(Isidore) Auguste Marie Francois-Xavier Comte	47	(32)
Background	47	(8)
Ideas	55	(13)
Significance	68	(11)
(David) Emile Durkheim	79	(36)
Background	79	(7)
Ideas	86	(14)
Significance	100	(15)
Herbert Spencer	115	(38)
Background	115	(11)
Ideas	126	(17)
Significance	143	(10)
Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel	153	(32)
Background	153	(9)
Ideas	162	(9)
Significance	171	(14)
Karl Marx	185	(36)
Background	185	(10)
Ideas	195	(13)
Significance	208	(13)
Max Weber	221	(38)
Background	221	(11)
Ideas	232	(13)
Significance	245	(14)
Georg Simmel	259	(30)
Background	259	(8)
Ideas	267	(12)
Significance	279	(10)
Sigmund Freud	289	(32)
Background	289	(8)
Ideas	297	(10)
Significance	307	(14)
Vilfredo Pareto	321	(30)
Background	321	(8)
Ideas	329	(13)
Significance	342	(9)
Thorstein Bunde Veblen	351	(36)
Background	351	(8)
Ideas	359	(13)
Significance	372	(15)
George Herbert Mead	387	(40)
Background	387	(13)
Ideas	400	(14)
Significance	414	(13)
Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche	427	(36)
Background	427	(10)
Ideas	437	(11)
Significance	448	(15)
The Paradoxical Failure of Classical Sociological Theory: A Concluding Essay	463	(16)
Classical Sociological Theory: The Heritage	463	(2)
The Contemporary Appropriation of Classical Theory	465	(2)
Classical Sociological Theory and Contemporary Academic Sociology	467	(7)
Sociology and Postmodernity	474	(3)
Concluding Remarks	477	(2)
Appendix Classical Theory on the Web	479	(4)
Name Index	483