Peter Kivisto
Augustana College and University of Turku
Book Recommendations:
Recommended by Peter Kivisto
“Royce has produced an erudite and highly readable book designed to introduce student readers to the three most important formative figures of modern sociology: Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, and Max Weber. His command of the relevant literature is impressive, as is his ability to convey complex ideas in a comprehensible was for the intended audience. The book does an excellent job of revealing the contemporary relevance of this trio of thinkers by linking their work to four major themes: the modern condition, the fate of the individual, state and democracy, and socialism and capitalism. By concluding with the last of these themes, Royce points to the role of the sociological imaginary in envisioning an alternative world where greater social justice and equality prevails.” (from Amazon)
by Edward Royce Rollins College·You?
by Edward Royce Rollins College·You?
Karl Marx, Émile Durkheim, and Max Weber are indispensable for understanding the sociological enterprise. They are among the chief founders of the discipline and among the foremost theorists of modernity, and their work can stimulate readers to reflect on their own identities and worldviews. Classical Social Theory and Modern Society introduces students to these three thinkers and shows their continued relevance today. The first chapter sets the stage by situating the work of Marx, Durkheim, and Weber in the context of three modernizing revolutions: the Enlightenment, the French Revolution of 1789, and the Industrial Revolution. Three overview chapters follow that summarize the key ideas of each thinker, focusing on their contributions to the development of sociology and their conceptions of modern society. The last portion of the book explores the thinking of Marx, Durkheim, and Weber on four themes—the pathologies of modern society, the predicament of the modern individual, the state and democracy, and socialism versus capitalism. These thematic chapters place Marx, Durkheim, and Weber in dialogue with one another, offering students the opportunity to wrestle with conflicting ideas on issues that are still significant today. Classical sociology is essential to the teaching of sociology and also an invaluable tool in the education of citizens.
Recommended by Peter Kivisto
“In his spirited defense of theory as a moral enterprise, Steven Seidman offers insightful, penetrating, critical, but always fair assessments of the theoretical contributions of a wide range of theorists past and present.... Written with an enviable clarity, in a style that is at once lucid and engaging.” (from Amazon)
by Steven Seidman·You?
by Steven Seidman·You?
In the sixth edition of Contested Knowledge, social theorist Steven Seidman presents the latest topics in social theory and addresses the current shift of 'universalist theorists' to networks of clustered debates. Responds to current issues, debates, and new social movements Reviews sociological theory from a contemporary perspective Reveals how the universal theorist and the era of rival schools has been replaced by networks of clustered debates that are relatively 'autonomous' and interdisciplinary Features updates and in-depth discussions of the newest clustered debates in social theory―intimacy, postcolonial nationalism, and the concept of 'the other' Challenges social scientists to renew their commitment to the important moral and political role social knowledge plays in public life