The Social Lens
An Invitation to Social and Sociological Theory
Published on 20. December 2006
Book
Hardback
632 pages
978-1-4129-1409-3 (ISBN)
Description
"This looks like it will be a great text. It covers the major schools and theorists in a logical and comprehensive way, and in a wonderful style that will engage students. It is engaging, informal and interesting, yet it does not slight the nuances of the content of the material covered." - Stephen R. Couch, The Pennsylvania State University"Teaching theory is a conversation with students, where the meaning of the social world and the theories we use to describe it must be reflected and played with. What I am looking for in a textbook is to lay the ground for this conversation, that practices some cognitive moves with students that I then can built on in class. And that is precisely what Allan does." - Stephan Groschwitz, University of CincinnatiThe Social Lens: An Invitation to Social and Sociological Theory covers the key thinkers in Western thought for the past 200 years. Written in a conversational style that is both appealing and provocative, this text uses real life examples to draw readers in and invite them to consider the ideas that have shaped our understanding of society.Key Features: Provides in-depth coverage of 30 individual theorists: The book is divided into three sections covering the classics, the organized perspectives, and contemporary critiques and visions.
Importantly, the book gives full treatment to and explicitly allows each of the 30 authors their individual perspectives and voices, allowing critical theorists to be critical and positivist theorists to be scientific. Emphasizes the problem of modernity/postmodernity as a thinking framework: Roughly organized around the theme of modernity, the book traces theories of race and gender through the three periods, beginning with the positive philosophy of Harriet Martineau and ending with the disenchantment of Jean Baudrillard. Explicitly written as an invitation to students: This book contains unparalleled pedagogical features, including study guides, "Seeing Further," "Defining the Perspective," "Essential Theorist" boxes, "Glossary of Terms," and "Building Your Theory Toolbox." These pedagogical features help the student organize and review the material, see their world in theoretical terms, and move beyond the book to begin their own research in theory.Intended Audience:This is an ideal core textbook for advanced undergraduate and graduate courses in social theory including Combined Sociological Theory, Classical Sociological Theory, and Contemporary Sociological Theory.
Importantly, the book gives full treatment to and explicitly allows each of the 30 authors their individual perspectives and voices, allowing critical theorists to be critical and positivist theorists to be scientific. Emphasizes the problem of modernity/postmodernity as a thinking framework: Roughly organized around the theme of modernity, the book traces theories of race and gender through the three periods, beginning with the positive philosophy of Harriet Martineau and ending with the disenchantment of Jean Baudrillard. Explicitly written as an invitation to students: This book contains unparalleled pedagogical features, including study guides, "Seeing Further," "Defining the Perspective," "Essential Theorist" boxes, "Glossary of Terms," and "Building Your Theory Toolbox." These pedagogical features help the student organize and review the material, see their world in theoretical terms, and move beyond the book to begin their own research in theory.Intended Audience:This is an ideal core textbook for advanced undergraduate and graduate courses in social theory including Combined Sociological Theory, Classical Sociological Theory, and Contemporary Sociological Theory.
Reviews / Votes
"This, then, is the overall strength of The Social Lens: its broad coverage from the roots of positivism and modernity to the post modern theme of disillusioned discontent...As a textbook is informally written and its tone invites the student reader in to explore with the author each new chapter of uncovered ground...Allan also encourages students to think beyond the theory on the page to its implications for global society by providing what he calls "theory you can use" to assist students in further exploration. Allan's is a fresh, new and bold approach to the theory textbook." -Barbara J. Denison, Shippensburg University TEACHING SOCIOLOGY, Vol. 36, 2008 (April:161-184) -- Barbara J. Denison TEACHING SOCIOLOGY, Vol. 36, 2008 (April:161-184) 20080512More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Thousand Oaks
United States
Publishing group
SAGE Publications Inc
Target group
College/higher education
Illustrations
Illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 254 mm
Width: 178 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-4129-1409-3 (9781412914093)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
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.
Content
Prelude: Imagine Society Theory and Perspectives Introducing This Book SECTION I INTRODUCTION: THE MODERN AGENDA -NINETHEEENTH CENTURY THEORIZING Modern Thinking Harriet Martineau-Theorist of Modernity Gender in Modernity Religion in Modernity Education in Modernity Building Your Theory Toolbox 1. Capitalism and Engines of Social Change-Karl Marx (1818-1883) Seeing Further: The Effects of Capitalism The Essential Marx Marx's Perspective: Human Consciousness and History Species-being Material Dialectic Concepts and Theory: The Basic Dynamics of Capitalism Class and Class Structure Industrialization, Commodification, and Overproduction Value and Exploitation Theory and Concepts: The Effects of Capitalism Alienation, Private Property, and Commodity Fetish Class Consciousness Marx Summary Looking Ahead Building Your Theory Toolbox 2. Rationality and the Bureaucratic Society-Max Weber (1864-1920) Seeing Further: The Effects of Bureaucratic Organization The Essential Weber Weber's Perspective: Cultural Sociology Culture and Social Science Weber's Method Rationalization Legitimation 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 Authority and Social Change Concepts and Theory: The Process of Rationalization Preconditions for Bureaucratic Organization Effects of Bureaucratic Organization Weber Summary Looking Ahead Building Your Theory Toolbox 3: Cultural Diversity and Social Integration-Emile Durkheim (1858-1917) Seeing Further: Social Integration and Cultural Diversity The Essential Durkheim Durkheim's Perspective: The Reality of Society and Collective Organismic Analogy Social Facts Concepts and Theory: The Religious Roots of Society Religion and Science Defining Religion Creating the Sacred Concepts and Theory: Social Diversity and Morality Mechanical and Organic Solidarity The Division of Labor The Problem of Modernity Organic Solidarity and Social Pathology Concepts and Theory: Individualism in Modern Society Suicide The Cult of the Individual Durkheim Summary Looking Ahead Building Your Theory Toolbox 4. The Individual in Modern Society-George Herbert Mead (1863-1931) and Georg Simmel (1858-1918) Seeing Further: The Individual in Society George Herbert Mead The Essential Mead Mead's Perspective: American Pragmatism and Action Human Action Concepts and Theory: Symbolic Meaning Symbols and Social Objects Interaction and Meaning Concepts and Theory: Living Outside the Moment Creating a Self Society and the Self The I and the Me Mead Summary Georg Simmel The Essential Simmel Simmel's Perspective: The Individual and Social Forms Concepts and Theory: Subjective and Objective Cultures Concepts and Theory: The Self in Modernity Urbanization Money Social Networks Simmel Summary Looking Ahead Mead and Simmel's Theoretical Impact The Self in Modernity: Bringing Mead and Simmel Together Building Your Theory Toolbox 5. The Challenges of Gender and Race-Charlotte Perkins Gilman (1860-1935) and W. E. B. Du Bois (1868-1963) Seeing Further: Social Exclusion Charlotte Perkins Gilman The Essential Gilman Gilman's Perspective: Evolution With a Twist Critical-Functional Evolution Concepts and Theory: Dynamics of Social Evolution Self- and Race-Preservation Gynaecocentric Theory Sexuo-Economic Effects Gilman Summary W. E. B. Du Bois The Essential Du Bois Extended Biography Du Bois' Perspective: The Experience of Oppression and Critical Knowledge The Centered Subject 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 Exporting Exploitation The Need for Color Du Bois Summary Looking Ahead Building Your Theory Toolbox SECTION II INTRODUCTION: THEORY CUMULATION AND SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT IN MID-TWENTIETH CENTURY Generalized Theory Theory Cumulation Parsons' Project Enter Critical Theory Building Your Theory Toolbox 6. Structural Functionalism -Talcott Parsons (1902 - 1979) and Robert K. Merton (1910 - 2003) Seeing Further: Inter-Structural Relations and Society as a Whole Defining Functionalism Talcott Parsons: Analytical Functionalism The Essential Parsons Concepts and Theory: Making the Social System Voluntaristic Action The Unit Act Constraining and Patterning Social Action Concepts and Theory: System Functions and Control Systemic Relations Cybernetic Hierarchy of Control Concepts and Theory: Social Change Cultural Strain Revolution Parsons Summary Robert K. Merton: Empirical Functionalism The Essential Merton Concepts and Theory: Critiquing Parsons' Functionalism Middle-Range Theories Critiquing Functionalism's Assumptions Concepts and Theory: Dynamic Functionalism Alternate Outcomes Emergent Social Change Merton Summary Looking Ahead Building Your Theory Toolbox 7. Conflict and Critical Theories Part I: Conflict Theory: Lewis Coser (1913 - 2003) , Ralf Dahrendorf (1929 - ), and Randall Collins (1941 - ) Seeing Further-Normal Conflict Defining Conflict Theory Lewis Coser: The Functional Consequences of Conflict The Essential Coser Concepts and Theory: Variation in Conflict Basic Sources of Conflict Predicting the Level of Violence Concepts and Theory: The Integrating Forces of Conflict Internal Conflict External Conflict Coser Summary Ralf Dahrendorf: Power and Dialectical Change The Essential Dahrendorf Concepts and Theory: Power and Group Interests Power Latent and Manifest Interests Concepts and Theory: Conflict Groups and Social Change Conditions of Conflict Group Formation Social Change Dahrendorf Summary Randall Collins: Emotion and the World in Conflict The Essential Collins Concepts and Theory: Four Main Points in Conflict Sociology Scarce Resources and Mobilization The Propagation and End of Conflict Concepts and Theory: Geopolitics The Role of the State Geopolitical Dynamics The Demise of Soviet Russia Collins Summary Part II: Jurgen Habermas-Critical Theory and Modernity The Essential Habermas Seeing Further: The Modern Hope of Equality Defining Critical Theory Concepts and Theory: Capitalism and Legitimation Liberal Capitalism and the Hope of Modernity Organized Capitalism and the Legitimation Crisis Concepts and Theory: The Colonization of Democracy Colonization of the Lifeworld Colonization of the Public Sphere Concepts and Theory: Communicative Action and Civil Society Ideal Speech Communities Civil Society Habermas Summary Looking Ahead Building Your Theory Toolbox 8: Structures of Inequality-Race and Gender: William Julius Wilson (1935-) and Janet Chafetz (1942-) William Julius Wilson-Race and Class The Essential Wilson Seeing Further-Structured Racial Inequality Concepts and Theory: Three Theories of Race Relations Orthodox Marxist Theory Split Labor Market Theory Wilson's Class-State Theory Concepts and Theory: Three Periods of American Race Relations The Plantation Economy: Racial-Caste Oppression Post Civil War to New Deal Politics: The Split Labor Market WWII and Beyond: Class-Based Racial Inequality Policy Implications Wilson Summary Looking Ahead-Race Janet Chafetz-Gender Equity The Essential Chafetz Seeing Further- Structured Gender Inequality Concepts and Theory: Coercive Gender Structures Macro-Level Coercive Structures Meso-Level Coercive Structures Micro-Level Coercive Structures Concepts and Theory: Voluntaristic Gender Inequality Intrapsychic Structures Social Learning Performing Gender Concepts and Theory: Stratification Stability Concepts and Theory: Changing Gender Inequality Intentional Change Chafetz Summary Looking Ahead-Gender Building Your Theory Toolbox 9: Interactionist Theories-Herbert Blumer (1900 - 1987) , Erving Goffman (1922 - 1982), and Harold Garfinkel (1917-) Seeing Further: The Social Encounter Herbert Blumer and Symbolic Interaction The Essential Blumer Seeing Further-Meaning and Interaction Defining Symbolic Interactionism Concepts and Theory: The Premises of Symbolic Interactionism Humans Act on the Basis of Meaning Meaning Arises Out of Interaction Individuals Interpret Meaning Concepts and Theory: The Root Images of Symbolic Interactionism The Nature of Society The Nature of Social Interaction The Nature of Objects The Nature of Human Action The Nature of Joint Actions Concepts and Theory: Empirical Science and Symbolic Interactionism The Premises of Empirical Science Methods of Symbolic Interactionism Implications of Symbolic Interactionist Methods Blumer Summary Erving Goffman and Dramaturgy The Essential Goffman Seeing Further-Managing Impressions Defining Dramaturgy Concepts and Theory: Impression Management Different Kinds of Selves Performing the Self Relating to Roles Sacred and Stigmatized Selves Concepts and Theory: The Encounter Interaction Ritual and Face-Work Focused and Unfocused Encounters Goffman Summary Harold Garfinkel and Ethnomethodology The Essential Garfinkel Seeing Further-Achieving Social Order Defining Ethnomethodology Concepts and Theory: Everyday Methods Everyday Social Order as an Accomplishment Seen But Unnoticed Concepts and Theory: Doing Society Reflexivity and Indexicality Accounting Documentary Method Garfinkel Summary Looking Ahead Building Your Theory Toolbox 10: Exchange Theory-Peter M. Blau (1918 - 2002), Karen S. Cook (1946 - ), and Randall Collins (1941- ) Peter M. Blau-Social Exchange Theory Seeing Further-Social Exchanges Defining Exchange Theory Concepts and Theory: Exchange and Power Basic Exchange Principles Exchange Norms and Social Power Concepts and Theory: The Micro-Macro Link Blau Summary Karen S. Cook-Power in Exchange Networks The Essential Cook Concepts and Theory: Characteristics of Exchange Networks Positive and Negative Relations Power and Balance in Exchange Networks Cook Summary Randall Collins-Ritual Exchange The Essential Collins Seeing Further: Exchange and Emotion Concepts and Theory: Interaction Ritual Chains (IRCs) Rituals Ritual Effects Concepts and Theory: The Micro-Macro Link Collins Summary Building Your Theory Toolbox SECTION III INTRODUCTION: CONTEMORARY NEW VISIONS AND CRITIQUES 11: Constructing Society-Anthony Giddens (1938- ) and Pierre Bourdieu (1930 - 2002) Anthony Giddens-Structuration and Modernity The Essential Giddens Seeing Further-Structuration Theory Part I: Recursive Structures Duality of Structure Modalities of Structuration Seeing Further-Structuration Theory Part II: Reflexive Actors Levels of Awareness Unconscious Motivation Defining Structuration Theory Concepts and Theory: The Contours of Modernity Radical Reflexivity Emptying Time and Space Institutions and Disembedding Mechanisms Globalization Concepts and Theory: The Experience of Modernity The Reflexive Project of the Self Pure Relationships Choice and Life Politics Giddens Summary Pierre Bourdieu-Constructivist Structuralism and Class The Essential Bourdieu Seeing Further-Constructivist Structuralism Overcoming Dichotomies Defining Constructivist Structuralism Concepts and Theory: Structuring Class Capitals Habitus Fields Concepts and Theory: Replicating Class Linguistic Markets Symbolic Struggle Bourdieu Summary Building Your Theory Toolbox 12. World Systems-Immanuel Wallerstein (1930- ) and Niklas Luhmann (1927 - 1998) Immanuel Wallerstein-Global Capitalism The Essential Wallerstein Seeing Further-World-System Theory Globality and Historicity Unidisciplinarity Defining World-Systems Theory Concepts and Theory: The Dialectics of Capitalism The Division of Labor and Exploitation Accumulation and Overproduction Concepts and Theory: The End of the World as We Know It World-Empires and World-Economies Kondratieff Waves The Modern Crisis Structural and Cultural Signs of the End Wallerstein Summary Niklas Luhmann: Social Systems and Their Environments The Essential Luhmann Seeing Further-Society as a System Defining System Theory Concepts and Theory: Defining Social Systems System Boundaries Meaning and Social Systems The Reflexive Nature of Social Systems Concepts and Theory: Social Evolution Three Societal Systems Evolutionary Processes Patterns of Differentiation Concepts and Theory: Modernity Social Integration Problems of Integration Luhmann Summary Building Your Theory Toolbox 13. Identity Politics-Dorothy E. Smith (1926 - ), Cornel West (1953 - ), and Patricia Hill Collins (1948 - ) Dorothy E. Smith-Gendered Consciousness The Essential Smith Seeing Further-Standpoint Theory Not Theory-Method! Facts and Texts: The New Materialism Defining Standpoint Concepts and Theory: The Standpoint of Women Sociology and the Relations of Ruling The Fault Line Standpoint and Text-Mediated Power Smith Summary Cornel West-Race Matters The Essential West Seeing Further-Prophetic Democracy Critical Culture Philosophy: Pragmatism and Existentialism Christianity Concepts and Theory: Race Matters Markets, Mobility, and Community Black Nihilism Black Leadership Crisis Black Cultural Armor West Summary Patricia Hill Collins-Race and Matrices of Domination The Essential Collins Seeing Further-Intersectionality and Black Feminist Epistemology Concepts and Theory: Black Feminist Epistemology Eurocentric Positivism Four Tenets of Black Feminist Epistemology Implications of Black Feminist Thought Black Intellectuals Concepts and Theory: Intersectionality and Matrices of Domination Black Feminist Thought, Intersectionality, and Activism Collins Summary Building Your Theory Toolbox 14. Post-Theories-Michel Foucault (1926 - 1984) and Jean Baudrillard (1929 - ) Michel Foucault-Defining the Possible and Impossible The Essential Foucault Seeing Further-Truth Games and Counter-Histories Defining Poststructuralism Concepts and Theory: The Practices of Power Epistemes and Order Discourse From Subject to Object Concepts and Theory: Power Over the Body Concepts and Theory: Power Over the Subject Greek Sexuality Modern Western Sexuality Foucault Summary Jean Baudrillard-The End of Everything Seeing Further-Cultural Postmodernism Defining Postmodernism Postmodernity in Modernity Concepts and Theory: Mediating the World Pre-Capitalist Society and Symbolic Exchange The Dawn of Capitalism and the Death of Meaning Concepts and Theory: Losing the World Entropy and Advertising Simulacrum and Hyperreality Sign Implosion Concepts and Theory: The Postmodern Person Fragmented Identities Play, Spectacle, and Passivity Baudrillard Summary Building Your Theory Toolbox Concluding Thoughts: Post-Thinking Postcolonialism