Sociological Theory: An Introduction to the Classical Tradition

Sociological Theory presents a readable and easily understandable version of the central concepts and arguments of the great classical sociological theorists, Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, and Max Weber. The book begins by introducing the initial turn to sociological thought through a brief discussion of the Enlightenment, Conservative Reaction, Comte, and Spencer. From this sociological blend of liberal and conservative ideas the work moves to its core discussion of the varying accounts of modern society found in the rich works of Marx, Durkheim, and Weber. From Marx’s reading of history and analysis of capitalism it moves through Durkheim’s accounts of social solidarity and suicide to Weber’s understanding of bureaucracy and of the religious foundations of the modern work ethic. It concludes with a succinct comparison of the three analyses of modern society.