Sociological Theory Course Overview

DAVIDSON COLLEGE
Soc 370 Sociological Theory

Fall Semester, 2007
Course: Sociology 370 – Sociological Theory
Time and Place: 1:00pm - 2:15pm Tuesdays and Thursdays, in Preyer 110
Prerequisite: None
Instructor: Gerardo Marti
Phone Number: (704) 894-2481
My Office: Papers turned in outside of class go at my door in Preyer 107
Pre-scheduled appointments meet in my office, Preyer 107
Email: gemarti@davidson.edu
Office Hours: Wednesdays, Fridays 10:00am – 11:30am and by appointment.
If you wish to mature your thought, apply yourself scrupulously to the study of a great master;
dismantle a system down to its most secret workings.
-- Emile Durkheim
Course Description:
This course provides an introduction to the central issues in sociological theory. We will draw from both
the "classical" period as well as the major “contemporary” developments of sociology through an
examining major figures and ideas of sociological theory in their historical context. The selection of
theoretical perspectives discussed in this course is selective but not arbitrary. The readings for this course
are almost exclusively from European white males since that is the source of the tradition as it is
currently perceived (although I will take time to mention notable women and minorities for example
Harriet Martineau, Ida B. Wells, Jane Addams, W.E.B. Dubois, and Frantz Fanon).
Sociological theorists set out to explain the broad contours of modern Western society, especially its
defining characteristics and its most pressing problems. Some theorists seek to understand the dangers
and possibilities inherent in the major transformations of Western society in the modern era, including
the rise of modern capitalism and the modern nation-state, the dissemination of democratic ideals, the
increasing prominence of science and bureaucratic organization, and the origins of new forms of social
cohesion and social disorder. Our goal will be understand how these theorists conceptualize these social
transformations through their analysis of society and the dilemmas confronting it: What do they consider
to be the distinctive features of modern Western society? What are the prospects for human happiness
and fulfillment within such a society? And what is the proper role for the theorist who seeks to study,
and perhaps improve, that society? In contrast to broad, historically-situated analyses, some theorists
focus on particular structures embedded in everyday interactions and experiences. Therefore our
understanding will also include how these theorists approach the ongoing accomplishment of daily
social life: How does the self emerge? How are individual lives shaped by their social context? What is
the essence of human nature? Finally, some theorists attempt to comprehend both simultaneously, so we
also will look at the interconnections between intimate behavior and broad social structures. We will
approach each theorist systematically, looking at the theorist’s work as a whole, searching for the inner
logic rather than simply pulling out a few central ideas. By the end of this course, you should be able to
recognize the major classical theorists of sociology. You should also be able to apply their concepts and
ideas to the social world that surrounds you, and thereby to assess their contemporary relevance.
We will spend a fair amount of time on the “classics” before going into an admittedly very small
selection of more recent developments in sociological theory. We will usually read secondary materials
first (for Tuesdays) and then primary materials (for Thursdays) which will allow you to gain some basis
for developing a critique and building upon interpretations of basic theory. Based on interests and
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research needs, you are strongly encouraged to explore theoretical developments not discussed in this
class through self-study. Of course, you are more than welcome to consult me for guidance. As a broad
focus for our readings, please know that sociological theorists address two central sets of questions,
which will be important themes of the class:
Domination. What are the chief forms of domination in the modern world? To what extent is
social order maintained through domination? What is freedom and how shall it be pursued?
Solidarity. What is the relation between the individual and the larger society? To what extent is
social order maintained through solidarity? Is it “human nature” to be autonomous, or to be in
community with others? What are the prospects for autonomy and community in the modern world?
Each theorist we discuss grapples with certain shared questions. As we read the works of these theorists,
please keep the following questions in mind:
• What is each theorist’s broader conception of the current epoch of human society (“modernity,”
“late modernity,” “postmodernity,” or however characterized), including its particular problems
and likely tendencies?
• More broadly, how are we to understand “society”? How is it structured, what are its most
central processes, and how and why does society change?
• What is the relationship between “individuals” and “society”? How do the individual and
society relate to one another?
• How does each theorist explicitly or implicitly draw on the works of other sociological theorists,
especially the “classic” theorists like Marx, Weber, and Durkheim? Alternately, how does, or
how might, each theorist criticize the ideas and approaches of other theorists?
• What is the mission and the method of the discipline we call sociology? How does each theorist
approach metatheoretical debates about social theory itself and how it should be developed?
• What sort of empirical research agenda or methodology follows from each of these theories of
society?
These questions continue to challenge today’s sociologists and, for inspiration and guidance, they return
to the work of the theorists examined here.
While some of this class will involve focused discussions by the instructor, much of my own comments
and “mini-lectures” will be based on our careful discussion of your close readings of primary theory texts.
None of this is easy reading. All of it is packed with complex conceptual content – our job will be to
"unpack" these ideas. This is a collective enterprise. You should not expect to be able to be a "free rider"
who benefits through the efforts of others. Therefore, we will read, and more importantly, talk theory
together. If theoretical concepts remain abstract and you cannot see how they relate to real world
situations, you do not know theory. You are expected, then, to come to class prepared to discuss the
theories that we read. This does not mean that when you come to class you have a complete
understanding of all the material. Class discussion is not only encouraged but expected. You may find
some of the material unclear and have questions about it. You will have questions, other students will
too. Together we will attempt to clarify them.
The recommended procedure is to read material thoroughly before the day on which it is assigned, then
to review it briefly following the discussion in class. Sociological theory is difficult because it is abstract.
Theory cannot be memorized. Students will read from some rather difficult primary sources and write
integrative essays which demonstrate an ability to analyze the "sociological masters" critically, compare
their ideas with one another, and apply concepts in social analysis of the social world around them. You
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are likely to find it necessary to approach the readings in this course somewhat differently than in other
sociology courses. These are readings to study and analyze, not simply skim over. Don't be discouraged
if you find some readings difficult at first. A second reading will help (and is often necessary). In
addition, we will spend a substantial amount of class time analyzing the readings in detail--that is,
engaging in textual analysis. It is important therefore to bring whatever text we are working on to class,
as well as any questions you may have accumulated. Gradually, like students in this course before you,
you will find yourself entering the world of the great sociological theorists, and things will begin to fall
into place. The field of sociology will acquire a new sense of unity, relevance, and even excitement.
Finally, I want to stress that there are assigned readings for the course which I believe will be most
helpful to your learning. However, you are STRONGLY encouraged to not only read recommended
readings, but also to SEEK OUT YOUR OWN READINGS of primary and secondary texts. Please do not
“google” your way into understanding sociological theory. There are many summaries of theorists
online; few of them will help you achieve the depth you should pursue in this class. Look for scholarly
sources (perhaps beginning with our library, upstairs, around 300’s). You may wish to take time to
purchase some of the books or use Interlibrary loan to go further with your reading. Often the analytical
turn of theory takes root when you deeply engage with at least one significant theorist beyond class.
Course Goals:
• Provide a deep understanding of certain “classic” works and a systematic grasp of selected
central figures in sociological theory;
• Consider the theoretical origins of contemporary sociology, and the ways in which the canonical
texts inform and inspire subsequent theorizing;
• Identify basic assumptions of various sociological theories, especially answering the questions
“What is human nature?” and “What accounts for social change?”;
• Understand and apply central concepts of sociological theories so that they can not only be
described but also know what is being explained;
• Relate dominant sociological theories to contemporary issues, particular as they relation to race,
gender, religion, and power;
• Acquire a sense of the diverse ways in which social theories can be appropriated and adapted;
and
• Encourage an appreciation for the nature and uses of social theory in general.
Required Books & Readings for All Students:
• Coser, Louis. 1977. Masters of Sociological Thought. 2nd Ed. New York: Harcourt, Brace Jovanovich.
• Peter L. Berger and Thomas Luckmann. 1967. Social Construction of Reality. Anchor.
• Erving Goffman, Charles Lemert and Ann Branaman (eds). 1997. The Goffman Reader. Blackwell
Publishers.
• Foucault, Michele. 1978. The History of Sexuality, Vol 1. New York, Vintage.
• Ulrich Beck and Johannes Willms. 2004. Conversations with Ulrich Beck. Polity Press.
• David Swartz. 1998. Culture and Power: The Sociology of Pierre Bourdieu. University of Chicago
Press.
On Reserve:
• Weekly Student Selected Course Reserve Readings.

• Weekly Required Readings.
• Several Weekly Recommended Readings.
Books Recommended for All:
• A Selected Book Report Text from Syllabus as Agreed Upon with Instructor.
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• Kenneth Morrison. 2006. Marx, Weber, Durkheim: Formations of Modern Social Thought. Second
Edition. Sage Publications.
• Giddens, Anthony. 1973. Capitalism and Modern Social Theory: An Analysis of the Writings of Marx,
Durkheim and Max Weber. Cambridge.
• Kenneth Allan. 2007. The Social Lens: An Invitation to Social and Sociological Theory. Pine Forge
Press.
• Mark A. Schneider. 2006. The Theory Primer: A Sociological Guide. Rowman and Littlefield.
• Georg Simmel, edited by Donald N. Levine. 1972. Georg Simmel on Individuality and Social
Forms (Heritage of Sociology Series). Chicago.
• Erving Goffman. 1961. Asylums: Essays on the Social Situation of Mental Patients and Other Inmates.
Anchor.
• William Outhwaite. 1995. Habermas: A Critical Introduction (Key Contemporary Thinkers).
Stanford University Press.
• Randall Collins. 2004. Interaction Ritual Chains. Princeton University Press.
Specific Requirements:
Participation, Attendance, Discussion 10%
Student Selected Course Reserve Reading 10%
Analytic Papers Part 1 20%
Analytic Papers Part 2 20%
Theorist Book Report 20%
Sociological Theorist Paper 20%
Total Grade = 100%
Participation, Attendance, Discussion are all related to my expectation that students attend class
regularly and participate in class discussions, exercises, and group projects, as required or appropriate.
On Tuesdays, we will usually focus on secondary readings (e.g., Coser, Giddens, Allan, Schnieder, Other
Authors) and a student’s Theorist Book Review. On Thursdays, we will focus on primary readings from
student selected course reserves (see below). I presume students can and will attend all or almost all
classes, but may occasionally have a legitimate reason to miss one class in the semester (extremely sick,
family funeral, etc.). I will take weekly attendance, however I am not interested in adjudicating doctors'
notes and other excuses. Just come to class, and don't miss more than one, if any. An unreasonable
number of absences from class will definitely hurt one's final grade (see on attendance more below).
Entirely faithful class attendance is notable and could make a positive difference in final grades in
borderline cases. For any student, missing 2 weeks-equivalent of class (2 M/W, 4 TTH or 6 MWF)
without excuse is sufficient grounds for failing the course. I do understand student athletes may need to
miss classes, and up to a week-equivalent of class (1 M/W, 2 TTH or 3 MWF) may be excused for athletic
events. Please provide schedules to me at the beginning of the semester. Overall, your active and
prepared participation in class discussion will be worth 10% of the final grade.
Every week, a student will be responsible for a Student Selected Course Reserve Reading. At least 10
days prior to discussing each theorist, students are to select 1-2 chapters (or equivalent) for the class to
read together. One student will sift through the corpus of a theorist’s work to copy and upload a
significant reading excerpt(s); the rest of the class will together read the selected excerpt(s) of each week’s
theorist. Choice of text is up to the discretion of each student, although I am happy to help with
decisions. Selected reading(s) should optimally a) illustrate core theme(s), idea(s), concept(s) of
theoretical work, b) represent core, rather than peripheral, aspects of author’s theoretical achievement(s),
c) be interesting, provocative, and stimulating for the development of sociological perspective.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR PLACING READINGS ON RESERVE: Neatly photocopy pages of the text, along
with title page and identifying bibliographic information. Then see Jean Coates or another librarian at
the front desk of the Little Library and politely inform them you have course reserve readings to upload
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for Dr. Marti’s class. The reading will be entered into the “Course Reserve Log” by NAME OF
THEORIST under MARTI – SOC 370 – SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY. Students must submit readings for
upload at least 10 days prior (the Monday week before the theorist’s week). Your grade will be assessed
on 1) responsibility/neatness/timeliness of submitting work for upload, and 2) quality of content of
selected text. Preparing and administering the course reserve selection will comprise 10% of the overall
grade.
Analytic Papers are 2 - 3 page typed papers that briefly describe the most important concepts and ideas
encountered in the student selected course reserve reading for the week. Please use 1 inch margins, 12
point font. Severe penalty for late papers. I suggest the following two-step thinking /writing process for
each of these papers: 1) Essentialize, What are the essential concepts, ideas, insights of this theorist and
how are they connected? 2) Then Improvise, What are the implications I see which the author does not or
did not bring out in relation to other theorists as well as in relation to actually explaining the social
world? Having already read secondary sources from Coser/Giddens/Allan/Schneider/Other Authors,
you will have necessary background not only for understanding primary sources but also to articulate
how it affirms and accentuates critical theoretical ideas. During class discussions, students are to
demonstrate a grasp of the assigned readings. Also, there is one set of analytic papers per half of the
semester; students have the option of “missing” one analytic paper per set. Each set of papers is worth
20% of your grade each or 40% for both sets together.
Every student will also prepare and present a Theorist Book Review. Every week a different student
will submit to me a book review (1,000 words max) and present main points orally in class. That means
this assignment has two parts: 1) a carefully and critically written book review, and 2) a clear and
compelling 10-minute oral presentation of the most important material. Plan to distribute a hard-copy
handout to all students which includes 1) full bibliographic information for the text, 2) a 1-2 page excerpt
to be read in-class, 3) a one-page bullet point summary, and 4) any appropriate charts, graphs and/or
illustrations. Book options are listed in the syllabus, and the choice of book is up to you; however, only
one book will be assigned per person. Each review should, where appropriate, integrate the other
readings of the course. Books with their due dates are indicated on the class schedule in the syllabus.
The Theorist Book Review is worth 20% of your grade.
GUIDELINES FOR BOOK REVIEW: Your book review is to be a maximum of 1,000 words. A suggested
structure is below just to get you started, but please note that you have freedom to structure the essay
however you wish:
FIRST PARAGRAPH identify thesis and whether the author achieves the stated purpose of the
book; provide a description and purpose of the book.
What is the book about?

What is the book trying to explain? Discern the motivation for writing the text.
How does the book fit into the overall “project” of the theorist?
SECOND (AND MAYBE THIRD AND MAYBE FOURTH) PARAGRAPH summarize the major
ideas, themes, concepts of the book.
What is the book’s argument?

What are the books terms and how are they defined?
What is the academic/philosophical/theoretical lineage or school of thought (context)?
How is thinking about the subject amended/challenged/discovered/expanded/refuted?
How does the book relate to other theorists encountered in the course?
FINAL PARAGRAPH on my assessment of book’s strengths and weaknesses, evaluation.
What core sociological insights emerge?
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Should this book be read, and by whom?
How would a person benefit from reading this book?
How important is this book? Be sure to clearly explain your reasoning.
Full letter penalty after start of class, another full letter for every additional 24 hour period.
Finally, the Sociological Theorist Paper is a comprehensive discussion of a major theorist. Your paper
provides the opportunity to delve into a theorist’s work. All papers demand thoughtful synthesis and
critical commentary. You have wide latitude in selecting themes/focal points, but in all cases your paper
should demonstrate how a sociological theorist addresses overarching/integrative questions about
sociological theory. Some preliminary bibliographic sources are provided in the syllabus and your texts.
Please do not under any circumstances “google” your paper. You must consult sociological journals and
books for scholarly writing relevant to your theorist. The paper should include understanding of primary
works by the theorists in addition to secondary analysis. The paper should not be written all at once; rather,
the paper should be written in several successive drafts with new levels of sophistication, density, and
insight worked into each draft. The choice of book for your critical book review may be a resource for
your thematic paper. And of course, you should come talk to me as well about your paper topics - well
before the topic submission due date. The paper is worth 20% of your grade.
For your final paper, I would suggest organizing your paper as follows:
Introduction (1-2 pages). Introduce your theorist and briefly situate him/her in terms of the
overarching topics and questions which concern our understanding of the social world. By the end of the
second paragraph it is essential that you have told me what the purpose of your paper is and what your
central argument / thesis is. If you read the first two paragraphs of your paper and the goals and
purpose of the paper are not very clear, please revise. I would also suggest a “map” paragraph at the end
of the introduction that tells me where we will be going in the paper. (For example, “I first explain….then
argue….by presenting evidence about three themes….”)
Body (6-8 pages). In this section please present and develop your argument by providing several
distinct pieces of information / evidence in support of it. Durkheim wrote, “My ideas are destined to be
modified and reformulated in the future.” Keep in mind a comparative framework throughout your
paper regarding developments, amendments, and disagreements that exist between your theorist and
other theorists.
If there is any relevant background to explain about your thesis / argument present that first.
(For example, key terms may need a paragraph to articulate what you mean. Perhaps a brief paragraph
or two about the history relevant to your argument would be necessary). A section providing
background is not essential for everyone. You need to decide whether it is necessary to help your
reader(s) understand. Think of your audience as me and other people in the class.
Then develop your argument by clearly presenting the evidence you have gathered in support of
it. For example, if you are comparing two or more arguments, this section will be organized around the
themes around which you are doing the comparison. There are two ways to structure a compare and
contrast paper. Pick the one that works best for you.
Theme 1
Argument/Theory A
Argument/Theory B
Theme 2
Argument/Theory A
Argument/Theory B
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etc.
Or
Argument/Theory A
Theme 1
Theme 2
Argument/Theory B
Theme 1
Theme 2
etc.
This is certainly not the only way to structure your paper, and you have the opportunity to craft
your paper as you please. Feel free to use section headings in this section and throughout the paper if it
helps you organize your thoughts and presentation.
Conclusion (1-2 pages): By this point, your argument and all of your evidence should be clearly
presented. Briefly summarize your argument here and think about what the implications of your
argument are more broadly. If your findings raise questions about other topics covered in this class,
please make those connections briefly here. If you have concluded, after writing this paper, that you want
to know more about your topic, explain what the next steps might be. etc.
**After you have finished writing your paper, go back and read the introduction, the first
sentence of each of your paragraphs, and your conclusion. From this, the point of your paper should be
very clear. If parts of your argument are embedded in the middle of other paragraphs (so you don’t see
them when doing this little test), restructure your paragraphs. Also make sure that you don’t conclude
something that contradicts or is very different from what you say in the introduction. After finishing
their first draft, most people need to take the conclusion to their paper and use it to rewrite their
introduction!
If you want me to help you make a more specific outline / list of questions to answer in your
paper, please let me know. I am happy to work with you on this.
Finally, keep in mind the basics –
• organize thinking before you write,

• make a good argument,
• write a strong thesis statement,
• make clear claims, and support them,
• do not be afraid to be provocative,
• avoid juvenile "I think, I feel, I believe" trap, or even name calling instead of analytical
insights,
• make analogies that hold up,
• do not trust research sources gained from Google or Wikipedia,
• do trust research from 1) course materials, 2) academic journal articles (e.g. JSTOR is an
excellent database), and 3) scholarly books (books from university presses and other
academic publishers),
• cite properly in-text or in a “bibliography” or “works cited” page,
• write a good topic sentence in a paragraph; structure your paragraph, OR sum it up
before moving on,
• connect ideas in thoughtful, unforeseen, non-obvious ways,
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• sequence ideas in a paragraph,
• transition ideas from paragraph to paragraph,
• write a good intro and conclusion.
Final Review:
There will be no final review. I reserve the right to schedule a final review, however, if you class does
not demonstrate adequate depth or analytic engagement with theorists throughout the semester.
Attendance:
I have learned over the years to be clear on this point. So let me be clear: I expect you to show
up for this class, that is to say, show up on time, stay the entire class period, and participate fully in each
class the whole time you are here. Students often ask me how many times they are allowed to cut my
class. You are allowed one unexcused absence; but, please note that every absence will have a negative
effect on your grade.
Also: 2 weeks-equivalent of class (2 M/W, 4 TTH or 6 MWF) unexcused absences are sufficient
grounds for failing the course.
Regarding tardiness: Do all you can to be on time. I understand if you are late, but continual,
persistent lateness will not be ignored. Roll will be taken at the beginning of class. If you come late, be
sure to check with me so that your presence, although late, will indeed be noted. One lateness will not
you’re your grade; 5 late arrivals most certainly will.
As a member of a classroom community, your behavior has a profound effect on the other
members of this community. I hope to create the best atmosphere in which all of my students can do
their very best work. Having people wander in and out is distraction and disturbing and downright
rude, and no one works well under those circumstances. Second, you want me to give you credit for
attending this class. I can’t do that with a clear conscience if you have not –truly- taken this class. That
means showing up AND participating. To me, this just makes sense. Third, there is the matter of mutual
respect. You are important to me (really!). I’ll do everything I know to respect you as an individual,
present material in an interesting, enthusiastic, challenging, honest way. I expect the same kind of effort
from you.
What about excused absences? For an absence to be excused, there must be three components:
First, you must tell me ahead of time when and why you will miss this class; Second, you must have a
legitimate excuse; Third, you must meet with another student about making up the work.
Bottom line: I want you here. I want you here on time. I expect you to be attentive and
participate actively the whole class period. I expect you to stay until the end of class.
About the Grading Scale
Your final grade for the class will be based on two sets of analytical papers (40%), two papers
focused on theorists’ work (40%), attendance, participation, and discussion (10%) and selection/
uploading of a course reserve reading (10%). I will use the following guidelines to grade your written
assignments:
A Outstanding Work (90-100%) Goes above and beyond the requirements of the assignment, above
and beyond merely competent work. Outstanding effort, significant achievement, and mastery of the
material of the course are clearly evident in comparison with other students in the course who have the
same assignment, same resources, and same time constraints. Exceptional critical skills, creativity or
originality is also evident. Consistently developed sociological perspective.
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B Above Average (80-89%) A “B” paper fulfills all aspects of the assignment and goes bit beyond
minimum competence to demonstrate a thorough and above average understanding of course material in
comparison with other students in the course. Extra effort, extra achievement or extra improvement
often evident. Clearly demonstrated sociological perspective.
C Average (70-79%) A “C” paper fulfills all aspects of the assignment with obvious competence
and grace in comparison with other students in the course. A thorough and satisfactory understanding
of basic course material and incorporation of a sociological perspective. If you do the assignment
exactly as it is assigned, you will receive an average grade; in other words, you will receive a grade of
75.
D Below Average (60-69%) A “D” paper represents marginally satisfactory understanding of basic
course material. A “D” may indicate failure to follow directions, failure to implement specific
recommendations, or failure to demonstrate personal effort and improvement in comparison with other
students in the course. Surface level grasp or application of a sociological perspective. Often a “D” is
given either because some aspect of the assignments have not been fulfilled, or because a preponderance
of errors (more than one or two per page) interferes with clear communication.
F Lack of demonstration of satisfactory understanding of basic course material. Failure to grasp or

apply a sociological perspective. Not Acceptable, either because the student did not complete the
assignment as directed, or because the level of writing skill is below an acceptable level for college work.
**All papers and/or reviews must be completed to receive a passing grade in this class**
In addition to these five grades, a student may receive a grade of R. R stands for “Redo” and
means the student has both the opportunity and the responsibility to do the assignment over. Usually
this is given because the student has misunderstood the assignment, or because some particularly
egregious error prevents the paper form achieving its purpose, or because I believe that the student has
made a good faith effort to excel but has run into significant difficulties with the assignments. If you
receive a grade of R, you have 48 hours to contact me for a phone or face-to-face appointment. In our
appointment, we will discuss what went wrong with the assignment, and we will contract a way and a
time to redo the assignment. If you fail to turn in a revision according to the individual contract, the
student will receive a 0 on the assignment.
Davidson College uses a plus and minus system on report cards. My scale for final averages is as
follows:
94-100 A 73-76 C
90-93 A- 70-72 C-
87-89 B+ 67-69 D+
84-86 B 63-66 D
80-83 B- 60-62 D-
77-79 C+ 0-59 F
College, Department and Instructor Policies for Davidson College:
A. Please refer the Davidson College Official Record regarding THE HONOR CODE. As members
of the Davidson College community, we are expected to uphold the honor code. In regard to
writing assignments, any student found to plagiarize or cheat will receive an “F” for that
assignment and will be referred to the Dean and Honor Council.
B. Students who will be absent at some point during the semester owing to religious observance are
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requested to notify the instructor during the first week of class (or the first week after late
enrollment) in order to make accommodations for assignment or review dates falling during
such observances.
C. As a courtesy to the instructor and your classmates, please be sure to turn off cell phones and
pagers or switch them to vibrate mode prior to the start of class.
D. Due to abuse by students in previous courses, laptops and other electronic devices are not
acceptable for use during class. If you wish to take notes, please use paper and pen/pencil.
E. Please be mindful of due dates/times. Submission guidelines for assignments are as follows:
All assignments will be accepted on the due date. Assignments must be submitted no later than
the beginning of the class scheduled on the due date. Late work will be penalized at 10% of the
total value for each day late, beginning immediately during the class on the due date. No work
will be accepted after the last scheduled class of the semester. The instructor is not responsible
for lost papers. If you are unable to turn in the assignment personally, please your own
arrangements to have the paper submitted on your behalf. Students are strongly encouraged to
keep a copy of each assignment until final grades are recorded. Any exceptions must be
approved well in advance of the due date with the instructor.
F. All major written assignments must be prepared using a word processor (some exercises may be
exempted) and submitted hard-copy. PLEASE DO NOT EMAIL PAPERS. The length and
content for each assignment will be discussed in class. Work done for this class is to be original,
done exclusively for this class, and must comply with high standards for written work. The
grade for each assignment will reflect evaluation of expression as well as content. Please
proofread carefully for spelling and grammatical errors. Spelling, grammatical, or typographical
errors reduce the quality of your work, and grades assessed will reflect such errors. Have
someone proofread your paper before you complete your final draft. Also, last-minute, hand-
written corrections to final copy are not preferred but accepted – better to have you catch it than
for me to see it.
G. Please note in regard to submission of papers that it is the responsibility of every student to print
pages for course assignments well before (hours or days) they are due. All excuses of “printer
malfunctions” are not acceptable.
H. As discrepancies with regard to grades can occur, it is recommended that students retain all
graded materials until such time as final grades have been sent out.
I. Extra-credit or make-up work is not available in this course. Please make every effort to submit
your assignments in a timely, complete, and professional manner.
J. Office hours and appointments: Since the management of time is critical for student and
professor alike, you are requested to please observe the following guidelines regarding office
appointments.
1. Priority: Students who have made appointments with me personally (either in person,
by phone, or via email) will be given priority. This is the best way to ensure time
together.
2. Drop-ins: I will be in my office at Preyer 107 during office hours as described at the top
of the syllabus.
3. Non-office hour appointments: Please try to stick to scheduled office hours for
appointments. However, if you find it impossible to schedule an appointment during
regular office hours, I will work with you to find a mutually convenient time.
4. Canceling appointments: If you will be unable to keep an appointment it would be
appreciated greatly if you would contact me via one of the means identified above to
Page 10
cancel your scheduled appointment. Thank you for your professional courtesy in this
regard.
Occasionally office hours may be canceled due to meetings, travel, or emergencies. I will make
an effort to contact you if you have scheduled an appointment during such times. If I am able to
remain accessible on another part of campus, I will indicate my location on my door. Please
accept my apologies in advance for this possible inconvenience.
Page 11
Note: Please Complete Readings Before Class; Topics & Assignments May Shift; Changes Will Be Announced
Week Theorists & Possible Read, Think & Explore Analyze, Write
Topics & Create
August 28, Introduction to Theory & Ian Craib, Introduction: What’s Wrong with Theory and Why We Still None.
30 Need It, pp. 3-14. (R)
Historical Context Collins and Makowsky, Introduction: Society and Illusion, pp. 1-15. (R)
Coser, August Comte pp. 3-42.
Origins of 19th century social
Alan Swingewood, Short History of Sociological Thought 3rd ed, Further
theory
Reading (list of sources for theorists and theoretical schools). (R)
Social change in 18th and 19th Recommended:
century Europe. French
Revolution. Industrial Schneider, The Theory Primer, “Theories and Theorizing.”
Revolution. Kenneth Morrison, Marx, Weber, Durkheim: Formations of Modern Social
August Comte and Thought, Introduction, i.e. “Origins,” “Definition” and “Central Subject
Development of French Matter.”
Positivism Collins and Makowsky, Ch. 1, The Prophets of Paris: Saint Simon and
Comte, pp. 19-29. (R)
Timosheff, Sociological Theory: It’s Nature and Growth, selections. (R)
Jonathan Turner, Emergence of Sociological Theory, “Comte.” (R)
Ian Craib, Ch. 3: Parsons: Theory as Filing System. (R)
September Karl Marx I: Coser, pp. 43-88. Analytic Papers

4, 6 Historical Materialism Karl Marx, Theses on Feurbach. (R). Set 1.
Capital, Capitalism, Means of Karl Marx, first part of The German Ideology. Marx-Engels Reader,
Production Tucker, Pp. 147-200. (R) Visit Theorists’
Corner in
The Division of Labor Book Report (option 1): Das Kapital. Davidson
Alienation, Human Nature Book Report (option 2): Grundrisse. Library.
and Class Conflict
Book Report (option 3): Selections from Marx-Engels Reader, Tucker.
Recommended:
Schneider, The Theory Primer, “Karl Marx and Capitalism,” “Historical
Materialism and Its Legacy.”
Giddens, Part 1: Marx, pp. 1-64.
Kenneth Morrison, Marx, Weber, Durkheim: Formations of Modern Social
Thought, Section on Karl Marx.
Collins and Makowsky, Ch. 2: Sociology in the Underground: Karl Marx,
pp. 30-47 (omit last section on Engels) (R)
Page 12
September Karl Marx II: Isaiah Berlin. Karl Marx, 4th Ed. Oxford. “Historical Materialism” Analytic Papers
11, 13 Chapter 6. (R).
Ideology Set 1.
Irving M. Zeitlin. Ideology and the Development of Sociological
The Origin of the State Theory, 7th Ed., pp. 139-170. (R).
Commodification Book Report (option 1): Das Kapital. (if not chosen last week)
Book Report (option 2): Grundrisse. (if not chosen last week)
Book Report (option 3): Selections from Marx-Engels Reader, Tucker.
Recommended:
Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, Manifesto of the Communist Party,
Section l: Bourgeois and Proletarians (1848)"
(http://csf.colorado.edu/mirrors/marxists.org/archive/marx/works/18
40/com-man/ch01.htm)
Recommended: Marx-Engels Internet Archive
(http://csf.colorado.edu/mirrors/marxists.org/archive/marx/index.htm
)
Marx, "Preface to a Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy
(1859)" (http://www.camden.rutgers.edu/~wood/marxpolec.htm)
Tucker, Marx/Engels Reader:
“Speech at the Graveside of Karl Marx (pp. 681-2)
“Speech at the Anniversary of the People’s Paper” (pp. 577-78)
“Working Class Manchester” (pp. 579-85)
“Estranged Labour” (pp. 70-81).
“The German Ideology” (pp. 146-200).
“Wage Labour and Capital” (pp. 203-17).
“Socialism: Utopian and Scientific” (pp. 700-717 only).
Ian Craib, Ch. 4: Rational Choice Theory. (R)
September Emile Durkheim I: Coser, pp. 129-176. Analytic Papers

18, 20 Philosopher Becomes Student Course Reserve Selection Set 1.
Sociologist
Book Report (option 1): The Division of Labor in Society.
Concern for Morality and
Social Solidarity Book Report (option 2): Rules of the Sociological Method.
Defining Sociology Recommended:
Methodological Rules, and Giddens, Part 2: Durkheim, pp. 65-118.

Social Facts
Social Order amidst Social Thought, Section on Emile Durkheim.
Change
Collins and Makowsky, Ch. 6: Dreyfus's Empire: Emile Durkheim and
Georges Sorel (R)
Emile Durkheim, "What Is A Social Fact?" from Rules of the Sociological
Method
(http://raven.jmu.edu/~ridenelr/DSS/Durkheim/SOCFACT.HTML)
Emile Durkheim, The Rules of Sociological Method (New York: Free Press,
1938), pp. xxxvii-lx, 1-75 (Introduction, What is a Social Fact? Rules for
Observation of Social Facts).
Emile Durkheim, "The Dualism of Human Nature," in Essays on Sociology
and Philosophy, ed. Kurt H. Wolff (New York: Harper & Row, 1960), pp.
325-340.
Page 13
September Emile Durkheim II: Durkheim, The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life, pp. 13-33 and Analytic Papers
25, 27 Social Structure and Social 462-496 (introduction and conclusion). (R)
Set 1.
Solidarity Student Course Reserve Selection.
The Conscience Collective and Book Report (option 1): Elementary Forms of Religious Life. Begin Looking
The Moral Order through Works
Book Report (option 2): Suicide. of Several
Mechanical and Organic
Solidarity. Recommended: Theorists.
The Division of Labor in Schneider, The Theory Primer, “Émile Durkheim on the Division of Labor
Society and Suicide,” “Émile Durkheim and Functionalism.”
Anomie and Egoistic Suicide Excerpts from Emile Durkheim, Suicide: A Sociological Study
(http://www.facstaff.bucknell.edu/kendrick/soci211/Readings/Durkhei
Elementary Forms of m/MainConcepts/EgoisticSuicide.html)
Religious Life
Durkheim, Suicide, Introduction, Book Two, ch. 1-5, Conclusion.
Religion, Ritual, and Social
Durkheim, Division of Labor in Society, Preface to the First Edition (pp.
Order
xxv-xxx); Introduction (pp. 1-7); Book I, Chapters 1-2 (pp. 11-64); Chapter
Sacred and Profane 3 (pp. 68-72 and 77-86 only); Chapter 5 (pp. 118-123 only); Chapter 7 (149-
174); Book II, Chapter 2 (pp. 200-223); Chapter 5 (from bottom of p. 286
through p. 287 only); Book III, Chapters 1-2 (pp. 291-322); Conclusion (pp.
329-340); Preface to the Second Edition (pp. liv-lvii only).
Excerpts from Marti, Worshipping Jesus in Hollywood. (R)
October 2, Max Weber I: Coser, pp. 217-262. Analytic Papers

4 Mission, Methods & Subject Student Course Reserve Selection. Set 1.
Matter
Book Report (option 1): Selections, From Max Weber, Gerth and Mills .
Historical/Interpretive
Epistemology Book Report (option 2): Methodology of the Social Sciences / Rosher and
Knies: The Logical Problems of Historical Economics.
Rationality and Action
Book Report (option 3): Selections, Economy and Society.
Comparative and Historical
Approach Recommended:
Protestantism & the Spirit of Giddens, Part 3: Weber, pp. 119-184.

Capitalism
Thought, Section on Max Weber.
Collins and Makowsky, Ch. 7: Max Weber: The Disenchantment of the
World, pp. 117-139. (R)
Weber, "The Definition of Sociology and of Social Action," and "Types of
Legitimate Domination," Economy and Society, Vol. 1 (Berkeley: Univ. of
California Press, 1978), pp. 4-26 and 212-216.
Weber, "Science as a Vocation" (Gerth and Mills, 129-56; read pp. 137-140,
143-148, and bottom of 150-151 only). (R)
Weber, "Politics as a Vocation" (Gerth and Mills, 77-128) (R)
October 9, Max Weber II: Weber, “Bureaucracy” (Gerth and Mills, pp. 196-244; read sections 1, 2, 6, Analytic Papers
11 Class, Status and Power 8, 9, 10, and 12 only). (R)
Set 1.
Religion & Capitalism Weber, "The Sociology of Charismatic Authority" (Gerth and Mills, 245-
64). (R) Select a Theorist
Rationalization & Domination for Final Paper.
Student Course Reserve Selection.
Power and Legitimate
Book Report (option 1): The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism.
authority.
Book Report (option 2): Selections, Economy and Society.
Bureaucracy
Recommended:
Charisma & Its
Transformations Schneider, The Theory Primer, “Max Weber and Capitalism,” “Max
Weber and Analytic Typologies.”
Weber, “Class, Status, Party” (Gerth and Mills, pp. 180-194).
Weber, The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, Introduction (pp.
13-31); Chapter 1 (pp. 35-46) Chapters 2-3 (pp. 47-92); Chapter 4 (pp. 95-
128, 153-154 only); Chapter 5 (pp. 155-183).
Excerpts from Marti, A Mosaic of Believers. (R)
Page 14
October 18 Karl Mannheim Coser, pp. 429-464.
Analytic Papers
(Fall Break Sociology of Knowledge Susan Hekman, “Mannheim’s Sociology of Knowledge: The Basic Set 1.
13-16.) Structure” & “Mannheim’s Conception of Knowledge,” Pp. 52-77. (R)
Intellectual Elite Student Course Reserve Selection. Analytic Papers
Set 1 Due.
Book Report (option 1): Ideology and Utopia.
Book Report (option 2): Essays on the Sociology of Culture.
Book Report (option 3): Essays on Sociology and Social Psychology.
Book Report (option 4): Selections, From Karl Mannheim
Recommended:
Karl Mannheim. 1939. Excerpt from first part of Ideology and Utopia.
Zoetrope. Pp. 11-81, 130-134. (R)
Karl Mannheim, “The sociology of knowledge,” Ideology and Utopia
(1936 [1931]), 237–280. (R)
October Georg Simmel Collins and Makowsky, Ch. 9: The Discovery of the Invisible World: Analytic Papers
23, 25 Simmel, Cooley, and Mead, pp. 160-178. (R)
The Metropolis and Mental Set 2.
Life Coser, pp. 177-216.
Student Course Reserve Selection. Select Scholarly
Form and Content of Social
Interaction (Books, Journals,
Book Report (option 1): Selections, The Sociology of Georg Simmel, Kurt Primary and
Social Conflict. H. Wolff. Secondary
Social Identities and Social Book Report (option 2): The Philosophy of Money. Works) Sources
Types on Major
Book Report (option 3): Conflict and The Web of Group-Affiliations.
Theorist.
Small Group Analysis Recommended:
Selections from volume edited by Donald N. Levine:

Simmel, "The Problem of Sociology”
Simmel, "The Stranger"
Simmel, "Exchange"
Simmel, "Conflict"
Simmel, "Domination"
Simmel, "The Poor"
Simmel, "Group Expansion and the Development of Individuality
Simmel, "The Metropolis and Mental Life
Simmel, "Freedom and the Individual"
Simmel, "Social Forms and Inner Needs"
October George Herbert Mead Coser, pp. 305-332.

Charles Horton Cooley Analytic Papers
30,
Coser, pp. 333-356. Set 2.
November
1 Genesis of the Self and Social
Ian Craib, Ch. 5: Symbolic Interactionism (R)
Control
Jonathan Turner, Emergence of Sociological Theory, “Mead.” (R)
The “Self” and Its Emergence
“Micro” vs. “Macro” Book Report (option 1): Mead, Mind, Self, and Society: From the
Sociology Standpoint of a Social Behaviorist.
Book Report (option 2): Cooley, Human Nature and the Social Order.
Recommended:
Schneider, The Theory Primer, “G. H. Mead and Symbolic Interaction.”

Mead, Mind, Self & Society, parts II, III, and IV. “Self” (R)
Hans Joas. G. H. Mead: A Contemporary Re-examination of His Thought
(Studies in Contemporary German Social Thought). MIT Press. 1985.
Jurgen Habermas, The Theory of Communicative Action, vol. 2, (Boston:
Beacon Press, 1981), pp. 1-111.
Page 15
November Erving Goffman Collins and Makowsky, Ch. 14: Erving Goffman and the Theater of
Social Encounters, pp. 246-259. (R) Analytic Papers
6, 8
Impression Management Set 2.
Erving Goffman, Charles Lemert and Ann Branaman (eds). 1997. The
Goffman Reader. Blackwell Publishers. Readings 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10,
Front Stage vs. Back Stage Present Draft Set
11, 12.
of Thematic
Structured Social Roles Student Course Reserve Selection. Possibilities for
Theorist Paper.
Agency vs. Determinism in Book Report (option 1): Presentation of Self in Everyday Life.
Everyday Life
Book Report (option 2): Stigma: Notes on the Management of Spoiled
Identity.
Book Report (option 3): Asylums: Essays on the Social Situation of Mental
Patients and Other Inmates.
Recommended:
Erving Goffman, Asylums.

From JeffreyAlexander, “Twenty Lectures: Sociological Theory Since
World War II,” Lecture Thirteen, pp. 230-237. (R)
Randall Collins, 2004, Interaction Ritual Chains, Princeton University
Press.
November Alfred Schutz and Social Berger and Luckmann, 1967, Social Construction of Everyday Life,
Phenomenology Anchor. Pp. 1-128; you may skim 129-189. Analytic Papers
13, 15
Set 2.
Peter Berger and Thomas
Luckmann and Social
Book Report (option 1): Phenomenology of the Social World.
Contructionism
Book Report (option 2): Selections, Collected Papers.
Edmund Husserl and Radical
Empiricism Book Report (option 3): The Homeless Mind.
Book Report (option 4): The Sacred Canopy.
Weber and the Nature of
Recommended:
Human Action
Alfred Schutz (edited by Helmut R. Wagner). 1999. Alfred Schutz on
Lifeworld
Phenomenology and Social Relations. University of Chicago Press. Pp.
72-76, 79-95, 111-122, 137-142, 163-166, 218-222, 231-235, 236-242, 252-262,
Multiple Realities.
265-278. (R)
Consociates Alfred Schutz. 19xx. Collected Papers, Vol 1, 2, 3, & 4. University of
Chicago Press. Selections.
Social Recipes
Alfred Schutz. 1973. Structures of the Lifeworld. Northwestern
The Problem of University Press.
Intersubjectivity Alfred Schutz, Richard M. Zaner (Ed). 1970. Reflections on the Problem
of Relevance. Yale University Press.
Institutionalization
Robert Wood, An Introduction to Thomas S. Kuhn's The Structure of
Plausibility Structures Scientific Revolutions (http://camden-nt1.rutgers.edu/wood/kuhn.htm)
From Peter Berger, “A Sacred Canopy” Ch. 1, 2. (R)
Secondary Socialization and
Resocialization
Immersion of Roles
Page 16
November Michel Foucault I Paul Rabinow, ed. The Foucault Reader. Pantheon Books. 1984.
“Introduction.” (R) Analytic Papers
20
Post-Structuralism Set 2.
Michel Foucault, Discipline and Punish. Vintage. 1977. (selections) (R)
From “Archeology” to Student Course Reserve Selection. Describe Focus of
“Genealogy” Sociological
Book Report (option 1): Discipline and Punish. Theorist Paper.
Power and Subjectivity Book Report (option 2): Any collection of essays (not lectures).
Book Report (option 3): Paul Rabinow, ed. The Foucault Reader.
Panopticon Pantheon Books. 1984.
Recommended:
Alan Swingewood, Short History, section on Foucault, (R)

Hubert L. Dreyfus and Paul Rabinow, Michel Foucault: Beyond
Structuralism and Hermeneutics. Second Edition. University of Chicago
Press. 1983. Chapter 1 “Practices and Discourse in Foucault’s Early
Writings”, pp. 3-15, Chapter 5 “Interpretive Analytics”, pp. 104-125,
Chapter 7 “The Genealogy of the Modern Individual as Object”, 143-167,
Chapter 9 “Power and Truth”, pp. 184-204. (R)
Michel Foucault, Jeremy R. Carrette (ed), Religion and Culture, Routledge,

“Sexuality and Power” pp. 115-127. (R)
Michel Foucault, Madness and Civilization: A History of Insanity in the
Age of Reason (New York: Vintage [1965] 1973).
Michel Foucault, The Order of Things: An Archaeology of the Human
Sciences (New York: Vintage [1970] 1973), ix-xxiv (“Foreword to the
English edition” and “Preface”).
Michel Foucault, The Birth of the Clinic (New York: Pantheon, 1973), ix-
xix, 195-199 (“Preface” and “Conclusion”).
Michel Foucault, Power/Knowledge (New York: Pantheon, 1980), 78-133
(“Two Lectures” and “Truth and Power”). (R)
Michel Foucault, “Afterword: The Subject and Power,” in Herbert L.
Dreyfus and Paul Rabinow, eds., Michel Foucault: Beyond Structuralism
and Hermeneutics (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1982), 208-213
only.
Michel Foucault, “Governmentality,” in Graham Burchell, Colin Gordon
and Peter Miller, eds., The Foucault Effect: Studies in Governmentality
(Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1991), 87-104.
M. Foucault, "What is Enlightenment?" in Foucault Reader. Ed. Paul
Rabinow. New York: Pantheon, 1984. 32-50.
November Michel Foucault II Madan Sarup, An Introductory Guide to Post-Structuralism and
Postmodernism. University of Georgia Press, 1989, “Foucault and the Analytic Papers
27, 29
Social Sciences” pp. 63-95. (R) Set 2.
Richard Harland, Superstructuralism: The Philosophy of Structuralism
and Post-Structuralism. Methuen, 1987, pp. “Foucault as
Archaeologist” 101-120, “Foucault as Genealogist” 155-166. (R)
Michele Foucault. History of Sexuality, Volume 1.
No Student Course Reserve Selection.
No Book Report.
Page 17
December Pierre Bourdieu David Swartz, Culture and Power: The Sociology of Pierre Bourdieu.
University of Chicago Press. 1998. Pp. “Overview” 6-12, “Bachelard and Analytic Papers
4, 6
Fields, Structure, Strategy, Progress of Science” 28-35, “Marx, Weber, Durkheim” 38-48, “Break Set 2.
and Capital with Subjectivism & Intellectualist Fallacy” 56-60, “Capital” 73-82, 88-
93, “Habitus” 103-116, “Field” 117, 122-129, “Putting Bourdieu’s
Culture, Class and Theoretical Pieces Together” 136-137, 140-142, “Application of
Classification Concepts” please select Chapter 7 –or- 8 –or- 9, “The Practice of
Reflective Sociology”” 247-266, 270-277.
Classification, Representation,
Rogers Brubaker, “Rethinking Classical Social Theory: The Sociological
and Politics Vision of Pierre Bourdieu,” Theory and Society 14 (1985). (R)
Book Report (option 1): Practical Reason: On the Theory of Action

Book Report (option 2): Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgment of
Taste.
Recommended:
Alan Swingewood, Short History, section on Bourdieu. (R)

Collins and Makowsky, Ch. 15: Contemporary Sociological Theory in
France, Germany and the United States, pp. 260-293.
Alan Swingewood, Short History, section on Bourdieu. (R)
Pierre Bourdieu, “The Forms of Capital,” in John G. Richardson, ed.,
Handbook of Theory and Research for the Sociology of Education (New
York: Greenwood Press, 1986), 241-258.
Pierre Bourdieu, Outline of a Theory of Practice (Cambridge, England:
Cambridge University Press, 1977), 72-73 (“Structures and the Habitus”),
168-170 (“Doxa, orthodoxy, heterodoxy”).
On Symbolic Power,” in Pierre Bourdieu, Language and Symbolic Power
(Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1991), 163-170, 171-201
(“Political Representation: Elements for a Theory of the Political Field”),
220-228 (“Identity and Representation: Elements for a Critical Reflection
on the Idea of Region”).
Bourdieu, Invitation to Reflexive Sociology, 62-94, 94-140, 140-215.
Pierre Bourdieu and Luc Boltanski, “Changes in social structure and
changes in the demand for education,” in S. Giner and M.S. Archer, eds.,
Contemporary Europe: Social Structures and Social Patterns (London:
Routledge, 1978), 197-227.
Pierre Bourdieu, “The Specificity of the Scientific Field and the Social
Conditions of the Progress of Reason,” Social Science Information 14, no. 6
(1975): 19-47.
Pierre Bourdieu, “The Market of Symbolic Goods,” Poetics 14 (1985): 13-
44.
Bourdieu, Distinction (Preface, Introduction, Chapters 1-5, 7-8,
Conclusion).
Pierre Bourdieu, “The Social Space and the Genesis of Groups,” Theory
and Society 14, no. 6 (November 1985): 723-744.
Pierre Bourdieu, Practical Reason: On the Theory of Action (Stanford, CA:
Stanford University Press, 1998), 35-63 (“Rethinking the State: Genesis and
Structure of the Bureaucratic Field”).
Page 18
December Ulrich Beck Ulrich Beck & Johannes Willms. Conversations with Ulrich Beck.
Polity Press. 2004. Read questions and responses from pages 1-24, 34- Sociological
11
Risk Society 50, 62-80, 89-93, 101-108, 114-129, 138-143, 150-125, 153-158, 162-168, 170- Theorist Paper
176, 190-193, 198-209, 211-213, 219-220. due.
Second Modernity
Methodological Nationalism Book Report (option 1): Risk Society: Towards a New Modernity.
Classical versus Cosmopolitan Book Report (option 2): Democracy without Enemies.
Theory
Book Report (option 3): Individualization: Institutionalized Individualism
Individualization and Its Social and Political Consequences
Book Report (option 4): Power in the Global Age: A New Global Political
Globalism versus Economy.
Globalization
Book Report (option 5): Reflexive Modernization: Politics, Tradition, and
Aesthetics in the Modern Social Order.
Recommended:
World Risk Society by Ulrich Beck.
Ecological Enlightenment: Essays on the Politics of the Risk Society by
Ulrich Beck.
The Risk Society and Beyond: Critical Issues for Social Theory by Barbara
Adam.
Cosmopolitan Vision by Ulrich Beck.
Ulrich Beck: A Critical Introduction to the Risk Society by Gabe Mythen.
The Normal Chaos of Love by Ulrich Beck, Elisabeth Beck-Gernsheim,
Mark Ritter, and Jane Wiebe
The Brave New World of Work by Ulrich Beck and Patrick Camiller.
What Is Globalization? by Ulrich Beck and Patrick Camiller.
December Final Review. No Final Review Scheduled.

None.
8-14
Page 19
Four theorists of the latter part of the twentieth century have been fundamental for rethinking the practice of
sociology: Michel Foucault (1926-1984), Jürgen Habermas (1929- ), Anthony Giddens (1938- ), and Pierre
Bourdieu (1930-2002). Through close analysis of primary texts, we will approach each theorist systematically—
looking at the larger theoretical project, and searching for the inner logic, rather than simply pulling out a few
central ideas.
Secondary sources:
Although no secondary sources are assigned for this course, many students find it helpful to consult some. In
the case of these four theorists, secondary sources are too numerous to list. Here are just a few:
Foucault:
Barry Smart, Michel Foucault (introductory)
Hubert L. Dreyfus and Paul Rabinow, Michel Foucault: Beyond Structuralism and Hermeneutics
Charles Lemert, Michel Foucault: Social Theory and Transgression
Graham Burchell, Colin Gordon and Peter Miller, eds., The Foucault Effect: Studies in Governmentality (essays)
Irene Diamond and Lee Quinby, Feminism and Foucault: Reflections on Resistance (essays)
Didier Erebon, Michel Foucault (intellectual biography)
James Miller, The Passion of Michel Foucault (intellectual bio, more controversial)
Habermas:
Thomas McCarthy, The Critical Theory of Jürgen Habermas (by his translator)
William Outhwaite, Habermas: A Critical Introduction (Key Contemporary Thinkers)
John B. Thompson and David Held, eds., Habermas: Critical Debates (essays)
New German Critique 35 (Spring/Summer 1985) (Special issue on Habermas)
Raymond Guess, The Idea of Critical Theory: Habermas and the Frankfurt School
Giddens:
Ian Craib, Anthony Giddens
David Held and John B. Thompson, eds., Social Theory of Modern Society: Anthony Giddens and his Critics (essays)
Bourdieu:
Rogers Brubaker, “Rethinking Classical Social Theory: The Sociological Vision of Pierre Bourdieu,” Theory and
Society 14 (1985)
Paul DiMaggio, “Review Essay on Pierre Bourdieu,” American Journal of Sociology 84 (1979)
David Swartz, Culture and Power: The Sociology of Pierre Bourdieu
Jennifer Webb, Tony Schirato, and Geoff Danaher, Understanding Bourdieu
Derek Robbins, The Work of Pierre Bourdieu
Richard Jenkins, Pierre Bourdieu
Edward Lipuma (ed.), Moishe Postone (ed.), Craig J. Calhoun (ed.), Bourdieu: Critical Perspectives
Page 20
USEFUL LINKS
Relevant to Course
Introduction to Theory & Historical Context of Sociology

http://www.hewett.norfolk.sch.uk/CURRIC/soc/Theory1.htm
Emile Durkheim
http://durkheim.itgo.com/main.html
http://www.relst.uiuc.edu/durkheim
http://www.hewett.norfolk.sch.uk/curric/soc/durkheim/durk.htm
Karl Marx
http://www.hewett.norfolk.sch.uk/curric/soc/MARX/Marx1.htm
http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/photo/
Max Weber
http://www.hewett.norfolk.sch.uk/CURRIC/soc/WEBER/Weber.htm
http://www.faculty.rsu.edu/%7Efelwell/Theorists/Weber/Whome.htm
Georg Simmel
http://socio.ch/sim/index_sim.htm
Charles Horton Cooley & George Herbert Mead
http://www.utm.edu/research/iep/m/mead.htm
http://spartan.ac.brocku.ca/%7Elward/
Other Links
Sociology Timeline from 1600 by Ed Stephan. http://www.ac.wwu.edu/~stephan/timeline.html

Dead Sociologists Index. http://www2.pfeiffer.edu/~lridener/DSS/INDEX.HTML
Famous Sociologists. http://www2.fmg.uva.nl/sociosite/topics/sociologists.html
Sociology Online. http://www.sociologyonline.co.uk/
Auguste Comte. http://www.multimania.com/clotilde/nofrench.htm
Marx/Engels Archives. http://www.marxists.org/
Marxism. http://www.anu.edu.au/polsci/marx/marx.html
The Emile Durkheim Page. http://www.relst.uiuc.edu/durkheim/
The Emile Durkheim Archive. http://durkheim.itgo.com/main.html
Verstehen: Max Weber's Home Page. http://www.faculty.rsu.edu/~felwell/Theorists/Weber/Whome.htm
The World-Systems Electronic Conferencing Network. http://csf.colorado.edu/wsystems/
PRAXIS: Resources For Social and Economic Development. http://caster.ssw.upenn.edu:80/~restes/praxis.html
Geroge Herbert Mead. http://spartan.ac.brocku.ca/~lward/
Women's Studies/Women's Issues Resource Sites. http://research.umbc.edu/~korenman/wmst/links.html
Society and Culture: Feminist Resources. ttp://femina.cybergrrl.com/femina/SocietyandCulture/FeministResources/
Feminist.com. http://feminist.com/
Allyn & Bacon Sociology Links. http://www.abacon.com/sociology/soclinks/index.html
Page 21
ADDITIONAL THEORISTS
Alvin W. Gouldner Louis Althuser

Anthony Giddens Manuel Castells
Antonio Gramsci Max Horkheimer
Betty Friedan W.E.B. Dubois
C. Wright Mills Michel Foucault
Charles Tilly Molefi Kete Asante
Christopher Lasch Nancy Chodorow
Cornel West Nancy Hartsock
Daniel Bell Niklas Lhuman
David Harvey Patricia Hill Collins
David Riesman Peter Berger
Talcott Parsons Peter Blau
Franz Fannon Pierre Bourdieu
Georg Lukacs Pitrim Sorokin
George Homans Ralf Dahrendorf
Harold Garfinkle Randall Collins
Herbert Marcuse Robert Ezra Park
Immanual Wallerstien Robert K. Merton
James S. Coleman Ruth Benedict
Jeffery Weeks Simone de Beauvoir
Jeffrey Alexander Steven Seidman
Judith Butler Stuart Hall
Judith Stacey Trinh T. Min-ha
Maurice Halbwachs W. I. Thomas
SUGGESTED READINGS
(Not Exhaustive and Not in Alphabetical Order, But Roughly in Order of Course Topics)
Talcott Parsons, The Structure of Social Action. 2 vols. NY: McGraw-Hill, 1937.
Parsons, Shils, Naegle, and Pitts, Theories of Society: Foundations of Modern Sociological Theory. NY: Free Press, 1965.
R. McKeon, ed., Introduction to Aristotle. Chicago: U. of Chicago Pr., 1973.
H. E. Barnes, An Introduction to the History of Sociology. Chicago: U. of Chicago Pr., 1948.
R. Aron, Main Currents in Sociological Thought. NY: Basic, 1968-70.
John A. Hall, ed., Rediscoveries: Some Neglected modern European Political Thinkers. Oxford: Clarendon Pr., 1986.
A. Gouldner, Enter Plato: The Origins of Western Social Theory in Ancient Greece. NY: Basic., 1965.
S. Lukes, "Methodological Individualism Reconsidered," Pp. 177-86 in Essays in Social Theory. NY: Columbia U. Pr,
1977.
R. K. Merton, Social Theory and Social Structure. NY: Free Press, 1968 [1949].
J. Turner and L. Beeghley, The Emergence of Sociological Theory. Homewood: Dorsey, 1981.
D. Martindale, The Nature and Types of Sociological Theory. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1960.
Quentin Skinner, The Foundations of Modern Political Thought. Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Pr., 1978.
P. Sorokin, Contemporary Sociological Theories. NY: Harper & Row, 1928.
Page 22
Louis Schneider, The Scottish Moralists. Chicago: U. of Chicago Pr., 1967.
I. Zeitlin, Ideology and the Development of Sociological Theory. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1968.
Florian Znaniecki, Cultural Sciences: Their Origin and Development. U. of Illinois Pr., 1952.
E. Halevy, The Growth of Philosophical Radicalism. M. Morris, tr. London: Faber and Faber, 1972 [1928[.
C. Camic, "The Utilitarians Revisited," AJS 85 (November, 1979):516-50.
J. Alexander, Theoretical Logic in Sociology. 4 vols. Berkeley: University of California Pr., 1982- (esp. Vol. I: Positivism,
Presuppositions, and Current Controversies, 1982.
P. Gay, The Enlightenment: An Interpretation. 2 vols. NY: Knopf, 1966-1969.
Randall Collins. Four Sociological Traditions. NY: Oxford U. Pr., 1994.
Nancy Bell and Lester Kurtz, "Social Theory and Nonviolent Revolutions: Rethinking Domination and Rebellion."
Charles Lemert, ed. Social Theory: The Multicultural and Classic Readings. Boulder: Westview Press, 1993.
Anthony Giddens, Central Problems in Social Theory. Berkeley: U. of California Pr., 1979.
Giddens, Profiles and Critiques in Social Theory. Berkeley: U. of California Pr., 1982.
Giddens, Social Theory and Modern Sociology. Stanford: Stanford U. Pr., 1987.
Lester Kurtz, "From Scylla to Charbydis: Sociological Objectivity and Bias" Sociological Forum 4 (1):139-149.
M. L. Wardell and S. Turner, eds. Sociological Theory in Transition. Winchester, Mass.: Allen & Unwin, 1986.
R. Collins, Sociological Insight. NY: Oxford, 1982.
Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan (1651).
John Locke, Two Treatises on Government (1690).
Adam Smith, Theory of the Moral Sentiments (1759).
Adam Ferguson, Essay on the History of Civil Society (1767).
Jeremy Bentham, Fragment on Government (1776).
Adam Ferguson, Principles of Moral and Political Science (1792).
Thomas Malthus, Essay on the Principle of Population (1798).
David Ricardo, Principles of Political Economy (1817).
John Stuart Mill, A System of Logic (1843), Book VI.
Montesquieu, The Spirit of Laws (1748).
Turgot, Sorboniques (1750).
Rousseau, The Social Contract (1762).
Saint-Simon, Social Organizations and Other Writings (1952).
S. Andreski, ed., The Essential Comte. London: Croom Helm, 1974.
Alexis de Tocqueville, The Old Regime and the French Revolution. G. Stuart, tr. Garden City: Doubleday Anchor, 1953
[1856].
A. de Tocqueville, Democracy in America.
George Herbert Mead, Movements of Thought in the Nineteenth Century. Chicago: U. of Chicago Press, 1936.
Raymond Aron, Main Currents, Vol. 1, Ch. 2.
T. N. Clark, Prophets and Patrons. Cambridge: Harvard U. Pr., 1973.
S. Evans-Pritchard, The Sociology of Comte: An Appreciation, 1970.
Kant, Critique of Pure Reason (1781).
Kant, Grundlegung (1785).
Kant, Critique of Practical Reason (1789).
Kant, Critique of Judgment (1790).
Hegel, Phenomenology of Spirit (1897).
Hegel, Philosophy of Right (1821).
Johann Gottfried von Herder, Reflections on the Philosophy of the History of Mankind. Chicago: U. of Chicago Pr., 1968,
esp. pp. 33-37.
K. Marx, Capital. 3 vols. NY: International Publishers, 1967 [1867, 1885, 1894].
H. Cleaver, Reading Capital Politically. Austin: U. of Texas Pr., 1979.
Coser, "Karl Marx 1818-1883"
G. H. Mead, "The Social Renaissance--Karl Marx and Socialism." Ch. XI in Movements of Thought.
Quintin Hoare and Geoffrey Nowell Smith, eds., Selections from the Prison Notebooks of Antonio Gramsci (New
York: International Publishers, 1987): “The Modern Prince” (pp. 125-205), “State and Civil Society” (pp. 229-247
only), “The Study of Philosophy” (pp. 323-377).
E.P. Thompson, The Making of the English Working Class (New York: Vintage Books, 1966), esp. pp. 9-13 (Preface).
Erik Olin Wright, Classes (London: Verso, 1985), esp. pp. 6-135 (Part One).
Catherine A. MacKinnon, Toward a Feminist Theory of the State (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1989), esp. pp.
1-80 (“Feminism and Marxism”).
E. Wilson, To the Finland Station. NY: Doubleday Anchor, 1955 [1940].
J. Alexander, The Antinomies of Classical Thought: Marx and Durkheim. Berkeley: U. of California Pr., 1982.
Page 23
Aron, Main Currents, Vol. I., Ch. 3.
A. Giddens, Capitalism and Modern Social Theory. Camb.; Cambridge U. Pr., 1971, 1-64.
R. Rosdolsky, The Making of Marx's 'Capital.' P. Burgess, tr. London: Pluto Pr., 1977 [1968].
J. A. Schumpeter, Capitalism, Socialism, and Democracy. London: Unwin, 1966.
G. Lukacs, History and Class Consciousness. London: Merlin, 1971.
C. Wright Mills, The Marxists. NY: Delta, 1963.
C. MacKinnon, "Feminism, Marxisms, Method, and the State: An Agenda for Theory." Signs (Spring, 1982):515-44.
Robert J. Antonio, "The Normative Foundations of Emancipatory Theory: Evolutionary versus Pragmatic
Perspectives." AJS 94 (Jan. 1989):721-48.
Jon Elster, Making Sense of Marx. Cambridge: Cambridge U. Press, 1985.
Erich Fromm, Beyond the Chains of Illusion: My Encounter with Marx and Freud. NY: Simon and Schuster, 1992.
Terrell Carver, ed. The Cambridge Companion to Marx. Cambridge: Cambridge U. Press, 1991.
George E. McCarthy, ed. Marx and Aristotle. Savage, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 1992.
Gautam Adhikair, Conflict and Civilization. New Delhi: Vikas, 1981.
Isaiah Berlin, Karl Marx: His Life and Environment. Oxford: Oxford U. Pr., 1978. 4th Ed.
Tom Bottomore, ed. Karl Marx. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1973.
Madhu Dandavate, Marx and Gandhi. Bombay: Popular Prakashan, 1977.
John Randall, Origins of Modernity. Cambridge: Polity Pr., 1987.
Paul Wallich, "The Analytical Economist: Don't Write Off Marx." Scientific American 264 (Feb. 1991):135 (1 page).
Callinicos , Alex, ed., Marxist theory. Oxford: Oxford U. Press, 1989.
Moseley, Fred, and Martha Campbell, eds. New investigations of Marx's method. Atlantic Highlands, N.J. : Humanities
Press, 1997.
Sweezy, Paul M. / The 'Communist Manifesto' today. Monthly Review : May 1998, v50, n1, p8.
Shuklian, Steve, "Marx, Dewey, and the instrumentalist approach to political economy." Journal of Economic Issues :
Sept 1995, v29, n3, p781.
Wallich, Paul. "The analytical economist: don't write off Marx." Scientific American : Feb 1991, v264, n2, p135.
Giddens, Anthony. "Modernity and utopia." New Statesman & Society : Nov 2 1990, v3, n125, p20 3 page(s).
S. Freud, Civilization and its Discontents. NY: Norton 1959 [1922].
Coser, "Herbert Spencer, 1820-1903"
M. Janowitz, "Sociological Theory and Social Control." AJS 80 (July, 1975):82-108.
A. Macfarlane, The Origins of English Individualism: The Family, Property, and Social Transition. New York: Cambridge
University Press, 1979.
L. Kurtz, Review of Macfarlane, The Origins of English Individualism. AJS 86 (September, 1980):403-407.
Durkheim, The Division of Labor in Society
Durkheim, Suicide
Durkheim, Rules of the Sociological Method
Durkheim, The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life
Coser, "Emile Durkheim, 1858-1917"
T. Parsons, The Structure of Social Action. NY: McGraw-Hill, 1937, vol. 1
A. Giddens, Emile Durkheim. Middlesex, Eng.: Penguin, 1978.
A. Giddens, "Durkheim as a Review Critic." Sociological Review 18 (1970):171-96.
J. Alexander, The Antinomies of Classical Thought: Marx and Durkheim. Berkeley: U. of California Pr., 1982.
T. N. Clark, Prophets and Patrons. Cambridge: Harvard U. Pr., 1973.
R. Bellah, ed., Emile Durkheim on Morality and Society.
S. Lukes, Emile Durkheim: His Life and Work. NY: Harper & Row, 1973.
R. Nisbet, Emile Durkheim. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1965.
R. Nisbet, The Sociology of Emile Durkheim, 1974.
K. Wolff, ed., Emile Durkheim: Essays on Sociology and Philosophy . Columbus: Ohio State University Pr., 1960.
T. Parsons, "Durkheim's Contribution to the Theory of Integration of Social Systems" Pp. 118-53 in Wolff (1960).
E. Tiryakian, "Durkheim's 'Elementary Forms' as 'Revelation,'" Pp. 114-35 in B. Rhea, The Future of the Sociological
Classics, 1981.
B. Johnson, "Durkheim's One Cause of Suicide." ASR 30 (1975):875-86.
S. Marks, "Durkheim's Theory of Anomie." AJS 80 (1974):329-63.
W. Pope, "Classic on Classic: Parsons's Interpretation of Durkheim" ASR 38 (1973):399-415.
R. Merton, "Durkheim's Division of Labor in Society." AJS 40 (November, 1934):L319-28.
R. A. Jones, "On Understanding a Sociological Classic." AJS 83 (September, 1977):279-319 [on The Elementary Forms of
the Religious Life]
R. A. Jones, Emile Durkheim. Beverly Hills, Calif.: Sage, 1986.
L. Coser, "Durkheim's Conservatism and Its Implications for His Sociological Theory." Pp. 211-32 in Emile Durkheim et
Page 24
al, Essays in Sociology and Philosophy. K. Wolff, ed. (1964).
G. Kagan, "Durkheim et Marx." Revue de l'histoire economique et sociale 24 (3):233-45.
D. LeCopra, Emile Durkheim: Sociologist and Philosopher. Cornell, 1972.
G. Poggi, Images of Society. Stanford U. Pr., 1972.
Emile Durkheim on Institutional Analysis, ed. by Mark Traugott. Chicago: U. of Chicago Pr., 1978.
Mark S. Cladis, A Communitarian Defense of Liberalism: Emile Durkheim and Contemporary Social Theory.
Stanford U. Pr., 1993.
Frank Parkin, Durkheim. NY: Oxford U. Pr., 1993.
Steve Fenton, Durkheim and Modern Sociology. Cambridge: Cambridge U. Pr., 1984.
Mestrovic, Stjepan,Durkheim and Postmodern Culture. NY: A. de Gruyter, 1992.
Mestrovic, Stjepan, Emile Durkheim and the Reformation of Sociology. Totawa, NY: Rowman and Littlefield, 1988.
F. Pearce, The Radical Durkheim. London: Unwin Hyman, 1989.
Warren Schmaus, Durkheim's Philosophy of Science and the Sociology of Knowledge. Chicago: U. of Chicago Pr., 1994.
Witney Pope, Durkheim's Suicide. Chicago: U. of Chicago Pr., 1976.
Steve Taylor, Durkheim and the Study of Suicide. NY: St Martin's Pr., 1982.
Anthony Giddens, Durkheim on Politics and the State. Cambridge: Polity Pr, 1986.
Lehman, Jennifer, Deconstructing Durkheim. New York: Routledge, 1993.
Lehman, Jennifer, Durkheim and Women: The Problematic Relationship. Lincoln: U. of Nebraska Pr., 1994.
Lehman, Jennifer, "Durkheim's Women: His Theory of the Structures and Functions of Sexuality." Current Perspectives
in Social Theory Vol 11, 1991.
Hamilton , Peter, ed. Emile Durkheim : critical assessments. London: Routledge, 1990.
Schmaus, Warren. Durkheim's philosophy of science and the sociology of knowledge : creating an intellectual niche. Chicago :
University of Chicago Press, 1994.
Weber, Economy and Society . NY: Bedminster Pr., 1968.
Weber, The Protestant Ethic and The Spirit of Capitalism. NY: Scribner's, 1958 (selections).
Weber, "Science as a Vocation" (Gerth and Mills, 129-56)
Weber, "Politics as a Vocation" (Gerth and Mills, 77-128)
Weber, "Power" (Gerth and Mills, 159-264)
Weber, "The Sociology of Charismatic Authority" (Gerth and Mills, 245-64)
Weber, "The Social Psychology of the World's Religions" (Gerth and Mills, 267-301)
Weber, "The Chinese Literati (Gerth and Mills, 416-444)
Coser, "Max Weber 1864-1920"
R. Bendix, Max Weber: An Intellectual Portrait. NY: Doubleday Anchor, 1962.
Donald N. Levine, Flight from Ambiguity. Chicago: U. of Chicago Pr., 1985.
Levine, "Rationality and Freedom: Weber and Beyond." Sociological Inquiry 51 (1981):5-26.
D. Wrong, ed., Max Weber. Prentice-Hall, 1970.
R. Howe, "Max Weber's Elective Affinities." AJS 894 (September 1978):366-85.
H. Gerth and C. W. Mills, Introduction," From Max Weber: Essays in Sociology. Hans H. Gerth and C. Wright Mills,
eds., trs. New York: Oxford University Press.
Jeffrey Alexander, The Classical Attempt at Theoretical Synthesis: Max Weber. U. of California Pr, 1983.
Alan Sica, Weber, Irrationality, and Social Order. Berkeley: U. of California Pr., 1988.
Anne Kane, "The Centrality of Culture in Social Theory: Fundamental Clues from Weber and Durkheim." In Social
Theory at the End of the Century, Stephen Turner, ed. Basil Blackwell, 1994.
Stephen P. Turner, Max Weber and the Dispute over Reason and Value. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1984.
S. Turner, "Weber on Action." ASR 48 (August, 1983):506-18.
Horowitz, Asher, and Terry Maley, eds.,The barbarism of reason : Max Weber and the twilight of enlightenment.Toronto :
U. of Toronto Press, 1994.
Ray, Larry J., and Michael Reed, eds. Organizing modernity : new Weberian perspectives on work organizations, and
society. London: Routledge, 1994.
T. Burger, Max Weber's Theory of Concept Formation. Duke U. Pr., 1976.
Kalberg, Stephen / Max Weber's comparative-historical sociology. Cambridge: Polity Press, 1994.
C. Mayer, "Max Weber's Interpretation of Karl Marx." Social Research 41 (1975):701-19.
F. Ringer, Decline of the German Mandarins. Harvard U. Pr., 1969.
R. W. Green, ed. Protestantism, Capitalism, and Social Science: The Weber Thesis Controversy. Lexington, Mass.: Heath,
1973.
R. Collins, "Weber's Last Theory of Capitalism: A Systematicization." ASR 45 (December, 1980):925-42.
D. Stammer, ed. Max Weber and Sociology Today. NY: Harper & Row, 1972.
D. Plotke, "Marxism, Sociology and Crisis: Lukac's Critique of Weber." Berkeley J of Sociology 20 (1975-76):181-232.
S. Kalberg, "Max Weber's Types of Rationality: Cornerstones for the Analysis of Rationalization Processes in
Page 25
History." AJS 85 (1980):1145-
W. Schluchter, The Rise of Western Rationalism: Max Weber's Developmental History. U. of California Pr., 1981.
A. Mitzman, The Iron Cage: An Historical Interpretation of Max Weber. NY: Universal Library, 1969.
Parsons, "Introduction." Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism.
Schutz, Alfred. On phenomenology and social relations; selected writings, ed., Helmut R. Wagner. Chicago, U of Chicago
Pr, 1970.
Dilthey, Pattern and Meaning in History.
Aron, Main Currents, II, 219-318.
Randall Collins, Max Weber: A Skeleton Key. Beverly Hills: SAGE, 1986.
Randall Collins, Weberian Sociological Theory. Cambridge: Cambridge U. Pr., 1986.
Bryan S. Turner, Max Weber: From History to Modernity. London: Routledge, 1993.
Marianne Weber, Max Weber: A Biography. NY: Wiley, 1975.
Johannes Weiss, Weber and the Marxist World. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1986.
Wolfgang Mommsen, The Political and Social Theory of Max Weber. Cambridge: Polity, 1989.
Stanislav Andreski, Max Weber's Insights and Errors. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1984.
Deutscher Soziologentag, Max Weber and Sociology Today, ed. by Otto Stammer; tr. by Kathleen Morris. New York:
Harper & Row, 1971.
Julien Freund, The Sociology of Max Weber. NY: Vintage, 1968.
Susan J. Hekman, Weber, The Ideal Type, and Contemporary Social Theory. Notre Dame: U. of Notre Dame Pr., 1983.
Dirk Kasler, Max Weber. Chicago: U. of Chicago Pr., 1988.
Guy Oaks, Weber and Rickert. Cambridge, MA: MIT Pr., 1988.
Guenther Roth, Max Weber's Vision of History. Berkeley: U. of California Pr., 1979.
Ahmad Sadu, Max Weber's Sociology of Intellectuals. NY: Oxford U. Pr., 1992.
Wolfgang Schluchter, The Rise of Western Rationalism. Berkeley: U. of California Pr., 1981.
Charles P. Loomis and Zona K. Loomis, eds., Seminar on Max Weber's Theory of Religion and Socio-Economic Change,
Hyderabad, 1966. New Delhi: Affiliated East-West Press; NY: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1969.
Anthony Giddens, Politics and Sociology in the Thought of Max Weber. London: Macmillan, 1972.
Morrison, Kenneth. Marx, Durkheim, Weber : formations of modern social thought. London : Sage, 1995
Schluchter, Wolfgang. Paradoxes of modernity : culture and conduct in the theory of Max Weber. Stanford: Stanford U. Pr.,
1996.
Turner, Stephen P. Max Weber : the lawyer as social thinker. London: Routledge, 1994.
Simmel, "The Problem of Sociology”
Simmel, "Exchange"
Simmel, "Conflict"
Simmel, "Domination"
Simmel, "The Poor"
Simmel, "The Stranger"
Simmel, "Group Expansion and the Development of Individuality
Simmel, "The Metropolis and Mental Life
Simmel, "Freedom and the Individual"
Simmel, "Social Forms and Inner Needs"
Coser, "Georg Simmel 1858-1918"
Talcott Parsons, The Structure of Social Action. 2 vols. NY: McGraw-Hill, 1937, the lost chapter on Simmel (still not
found? I've heard that excuse before!)
D. N. Levine, "Introduction." Georg Simmel on Individuality and Social Forms.
D. Levine, Carter, and Gorman. "Simmel's Influence on American Sociology." AJS 81 (January, March, 1976):813-45,
1112-32.
K. Wolff, "Introduction." The Sociology of Georg Simmel. NY: Free Press, 1950.
P. Lawrence, Georg Simmel: Sociologist and European. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1977.
T. Abel, "The Contribution of Georg Simmel: A Reappraisal." ASR 24 (August, 1959):4730-79.
L. Coser, "Georg Simmel's Style of Work...." AJS 63 (May, 1958):635-41.
G. Homans, "Social Behavior as Exchange." AJS 63 (May, 1958):596-606.
L. Coser, The Functions of Social Conflict. NY: Free Press, 1956.
L. Coser, Georg Simmel. Prentice-Hall, 1965.
Gianfranco Poggi, Money and the Modern Mind: Georg Simmel's Philosophy of Money. Berkeley: U. of California
Pr., 1993.
Frisby, David. Simmel and since : essays on Georg Simmel's social theory. London: Routledge, 1992.
Frisby, David. Sociological impressionism : a reassessment of Georg Simmel's social theory. 2nd ed. London: Routledge,
1992.
Page 26
Jaworski, Gary D. Georg Simmel and the American Prospect. Albany : SUNY Press, 1997.
Sellerberg, Ann-Mari. A Blend of contradictions: Georg Simmel in theory and practice. New Brunswick, N.J. : Transaction
Publishers, 1994.
Weinstein, Deena, and Michael A. Weinstein. Postmodern(ized) Simmel. London: Routledge, 1993.
Jane Addams, "Newer Ideals of Peace." Pp. 218-231 in The Social Thought of Jane Addams, ed. by Christopher Lasch.
Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill, 1965.
Thorstein Veblen, Theory of the Leisure Class (NY: Funk and Wagnalls, n.d. [1899], selections.
William I. Thomas and Florian Znaniecki, The Polish Peasant in Europe and America. ed. and abridged by Eli Zaretsky.
Urbana: U. of Illinois Pr., 1984, selections.
L. Kurtz, Evaluating Chicago Sociology
Coser, "Thorstein Veblen 1857-1929"
Coser, "William I. Thomas 1863-1947; Florian Znaniecki 1882-1958"
R. Hinkle, Founding Theory of American Sociology, 1883-1915. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1980.
H. Schwendinger and J. R. Schwendinger, The Sociologists of the Chair: A Radical Analysis of the Formative Years of North
American Sociology (1883-1922). NY: Basic, 1974.
M. Janowitz, "Introduction." W. I. Thomas on Social Organization and Social Personality. U. of Chicago Pr., 1966.
Hans Joas. G. H. Mead: A Contemporary Re-examination of His Thought (Studies in Contemporary German Social Thought).
MIT Press, 1985.
Hans Joas, Pragmatism and Social Theory. U. of Chicago Pr., 1993.
M. Bulmer, The Chicago School of Sociology. U. of Chicago Pr., 1984.
A. J. Vidich and S. Lyman, American Sociology: Worldly Rejections of Religion and Their Directions. New Haven: Yale U.
Pr., 1986.
E. Volkart, ed., Social Behavior and Personality: Contributions of W. I. Thomas to Theory and Social Research. NY: Social
Science Research Council, 1951.
N. Coughlan, Young John Dewey. NY: Free Press, 1976.
J. P. Diggins, The Bard of Savagery: Thorstein Veblen and Modern Social Theory. NY: Seabury, 1978.
E. A Shils, "Tradition, Ecology and Institution in the History of Sociology." Pp. 165-256 in The Calling of Sociology. U.
of Chicago Pr., 1980.
E. A. Shils, ed. Remembering the University of Chicago: Teachers, Scientists, and Scholars. Chicago: U. of Chicago Pr., 1991.
A. Small, "Fifty Years of Sociology in the United States, 1865-1915." AJS (May, 1916):721-864.
L. Kurtz, Review of The Polish Peasant in Europe and America, by W. I. Thomas and Florian Znaniecki. AJS 91
(September, 1985):476-479.
Mahatma Gandhi, "Love vs. War and Dictators." Pp. 325-336 in The Essential Gandhi, ed. by Louis Fischer (New
York: Vintage, 1962).
Nancy Bell and Lester Kurtz, "Social Theory and Nonviolent Revolutions: Rethinking Domination and Rebellion."
Lester Kurtz, "From Scylla to Charbydis: Sociological Objectivity and Bias" Sociological Forum, 1990.
Jeffrey Alexander, 20 Lectures: Sociological Theory Since World War II, Columbia University Press, 1987.
Craib, Ian. 1992. Modern Social Theory: From Parsons to Habermas. Palgave.
Michel Foucault, History of Sexuality, Volume One (New York: Vintage, [1978] 1985).
Philip Cassell, ed., The Giddens Reader (Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 1993).
Anthony Giddens, The Consequences of Modernity (Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 1990).
Pierre Bourdieu, Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgement of Taste (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press,
1984).
Pierre Bourdieu and Loïc J.D. Wacquant, An Invitation to Reflexive Sociology (Chicago: University of Chicago Press,
1992).
Please Note: New books on sociological theory – both original work and critical commentary of established work –
continue to be published every year. You are encouraged to seek out new sources on your own.
Page 27

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DAVIDSON COLLEGE

Soc 370 Sociological Theory

Required Books & Readings for All Students:

• Weekly Student Selected Course Reserve Readings.

Books Recommended for All:

What is the book about?

What is the book’s argument?

FINAL PARAGRAPH on my assessment of book’s strengths and weaknesses, evaluation.

What core sociological insights emerge?

Finally, keep in mind the basics –

• organize thinking before you write,

About the Grading Scale

F Lack of demonstration of satisfactory understanding of basic course material. Failure to grasp or

College, Department and Instructor Policies for Davidson College:

September Karl Marx I: Coser, pp. 43-88. Analytic Papers

September Emile Durkheim I: Coser, pp. 129-176. Analytic Papers

Defining Sociology Recommended:

Methodological Rules, and Giddens, Part 2: Durkheim, pp. 65-118.

Excerpts from Marti, Worshipping Jesus in Hollywood. (R)

October 2, Max Weber I: Coser, pp. 217-262. Analytic Papers

Protestantism & the Spirit of Giddens, Part 3: Weber, pp. 119-184.

Selections from volume edited by Donald N. Levine:

October George Herbert Mead Coser, pp. 305-332.

Schneider, The Theory Primer, “G. H. Mead and Symbolic Interaction.”

Erving Goffman, Asylums.

Alan Swingewood, Short History, section on Foucault, (R)

Michel Foucault, Jeremy R. Carrette (ed), Religion and Culture, Routledge,

Book Report (option 1): Practical Reason: On the Theory of Action

Alan Swingewood, Short History, section on Bourdieu. (R)

December Final Review. No Final Review Scheduled.

Introduction to Theory & Historical Context of Sociology

Sociology Timeline from 1600 by Ed Stephan. http://www.ac.wwu.edu/~stephan/timeline.html

Alvin W. Gouldner Louis Althuser

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