Understanding Modern SociologyFrom the team that brought you the bestselling Understanding Classical Sociology (SAGE Publications, 1995), we now have a companion volume dealing with the modern period of social theory. An introductory chapter situates the reader in the main changes in society and sociology following the classic period. This is then followed by separate chapters giving a detailed account of four perspectives that are regarded to be of seminal importance - Functionalism, Critical Theory, Structuralism and Symbolic Interactionism. All of the popular features of Understanding Classical Sociology are reproduced in this book: · Clarity of exposition and criticism · A passion for the importance and relevance of sociological reasoning and explanation · A commitment to treat social theory as a living tradition of thought In addition, the volume comes with a variety of pedagogic aids including summary points and key definitions to facilitate learning and study. This is a book that enhances the sociological imagination. It draws on the authors deep understanding and experience of teaching the subject over many decades. It will be welcomed by lecturers as a vital new teaching and research aid, and students will be stimulated and enriched by the unfussy and reliable advice on doing sociology that it imparts. |
Contents
The Background to Modern Sociology | 1746 |
The Frankfurt School and Critical Theory 59 | 1804 |
The analysis of myth 123 | 1868 |
Copyright | |
3 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
achieve action activities Adorno Althusser American sociology Anselm Strauss approach argued Authoritarian Personality Barthes basic basis Becker behaviour Blumer capitalism capitalist society Chicago conception conflict consciousness context Critical Theory critique culture deviance Dialectic of Enlightenment differentiation domination Durkheim economic elements emphasis empirical Erving Goffman ethnomethodology example fact Frankfurt School Freud functionalism functionalist groups Horkheimer Hughes human idea ideology important individual integration intellectual interaction interactionist involved Jürgen Habermas kind Lacan language Lévi-Strauss linguistics logical Louis Althusser Lukács Marx Marx's Marxist Mead Mead's means mind myth nature notion objective occupational Parsons patterns perspective phenomena philosophical point of view political positivism post-structuralism problem production psychoanalysis psychological reality recognised relations relationship Robert Merton role scientific situation social organisation social sciences social system social thought sociological theory sociologists Strauss structuralist structure studies sub-systems symbolic interactionism symbolic interactionist theoretical theorists things thinking totemism tradition unconscious understanding Weber