
Sociology and the Demystification of the Modern World (RLE Social Theory)
John Rex(Editor)
Routledge (Publisher)
1st Edition
Published on 8. August 2014
Book
Hardback
286 pages
978-1-138-78607-3 (ISBN)
Description
Professor Rex's controversial book concerns not only those who are professional sociologists but all thinking people who live in the modern world. One of the objects of sociology is to give 'power to the people', to make a contribution to the understanding of political problems. Rex writes from a deep conviction that sociology is a subject whose insights should be made available to the great mass of the people, so that they may liberate themselves from the mystification of social reality that is continually and routinely presented to them through the media, by those who exercise power and by those who have influence.
The book is dedicated to St Augustine and Franz Fanon, both of whom, Rex points out, were conscious of living in an age which was embarking on a new barbarism, but had the courage to use their intellects to help understand the possibility of a better future. Rex continues in this tradition, and his main preoccupations are reflected in the present book. It includes a discussion of the problem of social knowledge, an analysis of the basic problems of theory building, and, with the aid of concepts derived from Max Weber, an attempt to understand the major problems of the first, second and third worlds. The author also looks at social structures and moral perspectives, and discusses the vocation of a sociologist in a collapsing civilisation. The book is certain to stimulate debate, both in sociological and political fields and more generally, and is also a serious contribution to the discussion of the methodology and purposes of sociology.
The book is dedicated to St Augustine and Franz Fanon, both of whom, Rex points out, were conscious of living in an age which was embarking on a new barbarism, but had the courage to use their intellects to help understand the possibility of a better future. Rex continues in this tradition, and his main preoccupations are reflected in the present book. It includes a discussion of the problem of social knowledge, an analysis of the basic problems of theory building, and, with the aid of concepts derived from Max Weber, an attempt to understand the major problems of the first, second and third worlds. The author also looks at social structures and moral perspectives, and discusses the vocation of a sociologist in a collapsing civilisation. The book is certain to stimulate debate, both in sociological and political fields and more generally, and is also a serious contribution to the discussion of the methodology and purposes of sociology.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Weight
690 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-138-78607-3 (9781138786073)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Book
12/2015
1st Edition
Routledge
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Shipment within 10-20 days

E-Book
08/2014
1st Edition
Routledge
€64.49
Available for download

E-Book
08/2014
1st Edition
Routledge
€64.49
Available for download
Content
Part 1. The Problem of Social Knowledge 1. Sociology, Demystification and Common Sense 2. The Givens of Sociological Analysis 3. Actors' Theories and Sociologists' Constructs 4. Ideal Types, Structure and Quantitative Aspects of Sociology Part 2. Basic Problems of Theory Building 5. Social Structures, the Building Blocks of History 6. Some Major Problems of Social Structure 7. Structures, System and Conflict Part 3. First, Second and Third Worlds 8. The Western Capitalist Complex: Corporations and Classes 9. The Western Capitalist Complex: the Engineering of Consent 10. The Second World: Central Economic Planning and Political Mobilisation 11. The Third World and the Institutions of Colonialism Part 4. Social Structures and Moral Perspectives 12. The Moral Disintegration of the Enlightened World 13. The Revolution of the Third World and the New Dark Ages 14. Public Issues and Private Troubles 15. The Vocation of a Sociologist in a Collapsing Civilisation 16. Some Utopian Perspectives for a Distant Future