Social Theory and Sociology: The Classics and Beyond

This Timely volume represents an attempt by leading practitioners in the field to think reflexively about the present state of social theory and its historical analogues, and to consider new directions opposed to the "classical" social theorists, as well as new uses of the classics. Social Theory and Sociology begins to address a problem that is salient for students as well as academics, namely, why and how does the legacy of social theory matter? What is the value of what we are learning? No attempt is made to dodge these tough questions and some very different answers are provided. Ranging from classic figures such ad Marx top the new theoritical approaches deriving from science and tehnology studies, this book represernts a multivoiced, radically diverse consideration of what "theroy" is all about now, at the end of the century. Social Theory and Socioloogy will be esentail reading for advanced undergraduates and above of social theory–primarily those studying sociology and cultural studies–thouhjh it is also relevant for those in other humanities and social science departments.

1. Introduction: Social Theory and Sociology. (Stephhen P. Turner). Part I. 2. The Centrality of the Classics. (Jeffrey Alexandera). 3. Lego quia inutile: An alternative justification for the classics. (Gianfranco Poggi). Part II. 4. Three ideologies or one? The pseudo–battle of modernity. (Immanuel Wallerstein). 5. Whose Classics? Which reading? Interpretation and cultural difference in the canonization of sociological theory. (Craig Calhoun). 6. Crises of modernity. Political sociology in historical contexts. (Peter Wagner). Part III. 7. Measurement and the two cultures of sociology. (John R. Hall). 8. Marxism after communism. (Erik Olin Wright). 9. Standpoint epistemology (a feminist version): How social disadvantage creates epistemic advantage. (Sandra Harding). 10. The centrality of culture in social theory. Fundamental clues from Weber and Durkheim. (Anne E. Kane). Part IV. 11. Towards a reflexive sociology. A workshop with Pierre Bourdieu. (Loic J. D. Wacquant). 12. Homo sociologicus: Do we need him/her? (Peter Abell). 13. Science and technology studies and the renewal of social theory. (Steve Woolgar). 14. Theory then/theory now (or, ′The sociology is about to begin, said the man with the loudspeaker′) (Alan Sica). Index.

Stephen Turner is Graduate Professor at the University of South Florida, USA.