The Emergence of Sociological Theory

Jonathan H. Turner (PhD, Cornell University) is Distinguished Professor of sociology at the University of California at Riverside and University Professor for the University of California. The leading authority on sociological theory, Dr. Turner is the author of 38 influential books, which have been published in twelve different languages, as well as the author of many research articles in numerous journals and books.

Now published by SAGE, this scholarly text covers the first one hundred years of sociological theorizing, from 1830-1930, focusing primarily on Comte, Spencer, Marx, Weber, Simmel, Durkheim, and Mead. The text provides an in-depth examination of these early sociological theorists with biographical background, analysis of key works, major influences, critical insights, and also answers the question, 'What do these ideas tell us about the basic forces that shape the social world?'

1 The Rise of Theoretical Sociology The Enlightenment and New Ways of Thinking Early Sociological Theory, 1830-1930 The First Masters Conclusion2 The Origin and Context of Auguste Comte's Sociology The Strange Biography of Auguste Comte The Intellectual Origins of Comte's Thought Conclusion3 The Sociology of Auguste Comte Comte's Early Essays Comte's Course of Positive Philosophy Critical Conclusions4 The Origin and Context of Herbert Spencer's Thought Biographical Influences on Spencerian Sociology The Political Economy of ­Nineteenth-Century England The Scientific Milieu of Spencer's England Spencer's Synthetic Philosophy and the Sociology of Comte Why Read Spencer?5 The Sociology of Herbert Spencer Spencer's Moral Philosophy: Social Statics and Principles of Ethics Spencer's First Principles Spencer's The Study of Sociology A Note on Spencer's Descriptive Sociology Spencer's Principles of Sociology The Analysis of Societal Institutions Critical Conclusions6 The Origin and Context of Karl Marx's Thought Biographical Influences on Marx's Thought G. W. F. Hegel and Karl Marx Ludwig Feuerbach and Karl Marx Adam Smith and Karl Marx Friedrich Engels and Karl Marx7 The Sociology of Karl Marx The German Ideology The Communist Manifesto Capital Critical Conclusions8 The Origin and Context of Max Weber's Thought Biographical Influences on Weber's Thought The Early Years Karl Marx and Max Weber The Methodenstreit and Max Weber Wilhelm Dilthey and Max Weber Heinrich Rickert and Max Weber Weber's Theoretical Synthesis9 The Sociology of Max Weber Weber's Methodology of the Social Sciences Weber's Image of Social Organization Weber's Analysis of Domination Weber on Capitalism and Rationalization Weber's Study of Religion Weber's Outline of the Social System Critical Conclusions10 The Origin and Context of Georg Simmel's Thought Biographical Influences on Simmel's Thought Intellectual Influences on Simmel's Thought The Enigmatic Simmel11 The Sociology of Georg Simmel Simmel's Methodological Approach to the Study of Society The Web of Group Affiliations Conflict The Philosophy of Money Critical Conclusions12 The Origin and Context of Émile Durkheim's Thought Biographical Influences on Durkheim's Thought Charles Montesquieu and Durkheim Jean Jacques Rousseau and Durkheim Auguste Comte and Durkheim Alexis de Tocqueville and Durkheim Herbert Spencer and Durkheim Karl Marx and Durkheim Anticipating Durkheimian Sociology13 The Sociology of Émile Durkheim The Division of Labor in Society The Rules of the Sociological Method Suicide The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life A Science of "Morality" Critical Conclusions14 The Origin and Context of George Herbert Mead's Thought Biographical Influences on Mead's Thought Mead's Synthesis of Schools of Thought Wilhelm Wundt and Mead William James and Mead Charles Horton Cooley and MeadJohn Dewey and Mead Mead's Synthesis15 The Sociology of George Herbert Mead Mead's Broader Philosophy Mind, Self, and Society The Philosophy of the Act Critical Conclusions16 The Emergence of Contemporary Theoretical Perspective Nine Theoretical Traditions and Perspectives Conclusion