Explorations in Classical Sociological Theory: Seeing the Social World

Praised for its conversational tone, personal examples, and helpful pedagogical tools, the Fourth Edition of Explorations in Classical Sociological Theory: Seeing the Social World is organized around the modern ideas of progress, knowledge, and democracy.  With this historical thread woven throughout the chapters, the book presents a diverse selection of major classical theorists including Marx, Spencer, Durkheim, Weber, Mead, Simmel, Martineau, Gilman, Douglass, Du Bois, Parsons, and the Frankfurt School. Kenneth Allan and new co-author Sarah Daynes focus on the specific views of each theorist, rather than schools of thought, and highlight modernity and postmodernity to help contemporary readers understand how classical sociological theory applies to their lives.  

Table of Contents:
Preface Acknowledgments 1. Beginning to See: A Sociological Core The Making of Modernity and the Modern Way of Knowing Institutions of Modernity The Birth of Sociology: August Comte Comte’s Positivism The Evolution of Knowledge Theory Advantages and Goals of Positivism Seeing Society Sociological Methods Practicing Theory—A Summary Building Your Theory Toolbox 2. Seeing Society for the First Time: Herbert Spencer Theorist’s Digest The Sociological Imagination of Herbert Spencer Spencer’s Life Spencer’s Social World Spencer’s Sociological Imagination: Functionalism Concepts and Theory: Social Evolution The Social System System Needs Differentiation and Specialization Types of Society Regulatory Complexity Industrial and Militaristic Concepts and Theory: Social Institutions Domestic Institutions Ceremonial Institutions Ecclesiastical Institutions Thinking About Modernity and Postmodernity Defining Postmodernity Religion: A Postmodern Case in Point Summary Building Your Theory Toolbox 3. Class Inequality: Karl Marx Theorist’s Digest The Sociological Imagination of Karl Marx Marx’s Life Marx’s Social World Marx’s Intellectual World Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel Ludwig Andreas von Feuerbach Adam Smith Marx’s Sociological Imagination: Critical Conflict Theory Human Nature History—The Material Dialectic Concepts and Theory: The Contradictions of Capitalism Value and Exploitation Industrialization, Markets, and Commodification Concepts and Theory: Class Revolution Class and Class Structure Overproduction Concepts and Theory: The Problem of Ideology and Consciousness Alienation, Private Property, and Commodity Fetish False Consciousness and Religion Class Consciousness Thinking About Modernity and Postmodernity Machines of Production and Consciousness Machines of Reproduction and Schizophrenic Culture Summary Building Your Theory Toolbox 4. Diversity and Social Solidarity: Émile Durkheim Theorist’s Digest The Sociological Imagination of Émile Durkheim Durkheim’s Life Durkheim’s Social World Durkheim’s Intellectual World Montesquieu Jean-Jacques Rousseau Durkheim’s Contribution to Functionalism Durkheim’s Sociological Imagination: Cultural Sociology Concepts and Theory: Primal Society Defining Religion Creating a Sacred World Concepts and Theory: Social Diversity and Moral Consensus Mechanical and Organic Solidarity The Division of Labor The Problem With Modern Society Organic Solidarity and Social Pathology Concepts and Theory: Individualism Suicide The Cult of the Individual Thinking About Modernity and Postmodernity Grand Narratives, Doubt, and Civil Religion Summary Building Your Theory Toolbox 5. Rationality and Organization: Max Weber Theorist’s Digest The Sociological Imagination of Max Weber Weber’s Life Weber’s Social World Weber’s Intellectual World The Problems of Values and Meaning Specific Methods: Ideal Types Specific Methods: Verstehen Weber’s Sociological Imagination Concepts and Theory: The Process of Rationalization Types of Social Action Concepts and Theory: The Evolution of Religion From Magic to Religion From Polytheism to Ethical Monotheism Concepts and Theory: The Rise of Capitalism The Religious Culture of Capitalism Structural Influences on Capitalism Concepts and Theory: Class, Authority, and Social Change Class Status and Party Crosscutting Stratification Authority and Social Change Concepts and Theory: Rational-Legal Organization Ideal-Type Bureaucracies Effects of Bureaucratic Organization Thinking About Modernity and Postmodernity Summary Building Your Theory Toolbox INTRODUCTION: ANOTHER SOCIOLOGICAL CORE 6. The Modern Person: George Herbert Mead and Georg Simmel George Herbert Mead—Symbolic Interaction Theorist’s Digest Concepts and Theory: Truth, Meaning, and Action Pragmatic Truth Human Action Concepts and Theory: Meaning and Interaction Symbolic Interaction Concepts and Theory: Making Yourself The Mind Stages of Role Taking Self and Society The I and the Me Summary Georg Simmel—Formal Sociology Theorist’s Digest Concepts and Theory: The Individual in Society Subjective and Objective Cultures Concepts and Theory: The Self in the City The Division of Labor Money and Markets Social Networks: Rational Versus Organic Group Membership Summary Thinking About Modernity and Postmodernity Simulacrum and Hyperreality Reflexivity and the Fragmenting of the Self Fusing the I and the Me Building Your Theory Toolbox 7. Seeing Gender: Harriett Martineau and Charlotte Perkins Gilman Waves of Feminism Harriet Martineau—Gender and Democracy Theorist’s Digest Concepts and Theory: Observing Society Morals and Manners Preparing the Observer Safeguarding Observations Concepts and Theory: Gender and Democracy Gender and Family The Cultural Logic of Gender Workforce Participation Concepts and Theory: Religion, Education, and Democracy Religious Forms Religious Forms and Democracy Conditions of Religion Education and Freedom Summary Charlotte Perkins Gilman—The Evolution of Gender Theorist’s Digest Concepts and Theory: Critical Evolution Theory Functional Evolution Adding Marx Gynaecocentric Theory Concepts and Theory: Dynamics of Social Evolution Morbid Excess in Sex Distinction Sexuo-Economic Effects Summary Building Your Theory Toolbox 8. Seeing Race: Frederick Douglass and W. E. B. Du Bois Race Literature Frederick Douglass—The American Discourse of Race Theorist’s Digest Concepts and Theory: The Discourse of Slavery Race as Other Democracy and Universalism Summary W. E. B. Du Bois—The Culture of Race Theorist’s Digest Concepts and Theory: The Experience of Oppression and Critical Knowledge Standpoint of the Oppressed Concepts and Theory: Cultural Oppression Exclusion From History Representation Stereotypes and Slippery Slopes Double Consciousness Concepts and Theory: The Dark Nations and World Capitalism The Need for Color Summary Gender and Race: Thinking About Modernity and Postmodernity Modernity and Identity The Postmodern Twist Building Your Theory Toolbox 9. Seeing Ahead: Defining Moments in Twentieth Century Theory: Talcott Parsons and the Frankfurt School Talcott Parsons: Defining Sociology Parsons’s Vision for the Social Sciences Parsons’s Theoretical Project Parsons and the Problem of Social Order Voluntaristic Action Patterning Voluntaristic Action The Frankfurt School: Critiquing Modernity Historical Roots The Problem with Positivism: Max Horkheimer and Theodor Adorno An Analysis of Art and Culture Building Your Theory Toolbox References Index About the Authors

About the Author :
Kenneth Allan received his PhD in sociology from the University of California, Riverside (1995), and is currently professor of Sociology at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG). Before moving to UNCG, he directed the Teaching Assistant Development Program at the University of California, Riverside, and coedited Training Teaching Assistants, 2nd Edition (1997), published by the American Sociological Association. In addition to teaching classical and contemporary theory at UNCG, Allan also supervised UNCG’s sociology iSchool program, which offered online introduction to sociology classes to high school students across North Carolina, has designed several online courses for both the college and department, and has regularly taught graduate pedagogy courses. Allan’s research areas include theory, culture, and the self. He has authored several works in the area of theory, including multiple textbooks covering classical and contemporary theory, as well as The Meaning of Culture: Moving the Postmodern Critique Forward, and A Primer in Social and Sociological Theory: Toward a Sociology of Citizenship. His current projects include a social history of American individualism, a sociological analysis of consciousness and self, as well as a novel based in early 20th century American life.

Review :
"I have [been] using Allan′s books since I started teaching social theory courses as an adjunct in grad school. [He] takes complicated materials that can be very dense and obtuse [and presents] concepts in a straightforward manner. The writing clarity stands on its own." "Allan does a much better job of setting the scene for [an] understanding of Classical Theory than other texts I have used in the past. He also speaks in lay terms so that undergraduates [can] grasp the material." "I feel that the Sociological Imagination sections, Theoretical Hints, Enduring Issues, and Theory Toolboxes are especially useful to my students." "[Explorations in Classical Sociology Theory] makes accessible to undergraduates rather difficult material. [It] sets theories in the context of major conceptual frameworks and orientations [and] offers contemporary interpretations and applications."