Understanding Classical Sociology by John Hughes

Understanding Classical Sociology by John Hughes

A lucid examination of the pivotal theories of Marx, Weber and Durkheim, this accessible text demonstrates the continuing relevance of these three figures to contemporary sociology. The authors show how the classical apparatus is still in use, even though it is being directed in new ways in response to the changing character of society. Writing with the needs of the undergraduate student in mind, the authors emphasize the continuities in modern sociological thought, and argue that many of the ideas of postmodern thinkers were anticipated by classical theorists. The introduction outlines the main elements of the sociological tradition and highlights its roots in the Enlightenment. The chapters that follow give detailed, sharply focused accounts of the main ideas of Marx, Weber and Durkheim, connecting them with more recent sociological theories and approaches.

`Hughes, Martin, Sharrock set out to write a textbook for undergraduatesTheir major aim is to offer a sensitive and faithful interpretation of the pioneers. In this they succeed admirably... make[s] no concessions to those common student demands for "four main points about Marx": Hughes et al insist that the great tradition is difficult, that the corpus requires intense effort and reflection. Yet they convey the complexity in an appealing and comprehensible way. There are helpful subheadings, no presumption that readers are familiar with Hegel, Kant and suchlike, and skilful interweaving of biographical material, historical contextualisation and the major ideas of the three giants. For almost 25 years Anthony Giddens′s impressive Capitalism and Modern Social Theory has been the required text for classical theory. But that will now change. Less expositional, and more willing to range beyond the original texts, Hughes et al will rapidly, and rightly, become the essential student source. Totally reliable... the authors have produced a book urgently needed by all those charged with introducing students to the classics.... quite indispensable′ - The Times Higher Education Supplement

COMPLETE VERSION OF THES REVIEW

`Hughes, Martin, Sharrock set out to write a textbook for undergraduates. Their major aim is to offer a sensitive and faithful interpretations of the pioneers. In this they succeed admirably: the book is made up of an introduction and conclusion set around three chapters, one on Marx, another on Weber and the third on Durkheim. Each chapter is characteristically scholarly but accessible to students. The authors make no concessions to those common student demands for "four main points about Marx": Hughes et al insist that the great tradition is difficult, that the corpus requires intense effort and reflection. Yet they manage at the same time to convey the complexity in an appealing and comprehensible way. There are helpful subheadings, no presumption that readers are familiar with Hegel, Kant and suchlike, and skilful interweaving of biographical material, historical contextualisation and the major ideas of the three giants. For almost 25 years Anthony Giddens′s impressive Capitalism and Modern Social Theory has been the required text for classical theory. But that will now change. Less expositional, and more willing to range beyond the original texts, Hughes et al will rapidly, and rightly, become the essential student source. Totally reliable... the authors have produced a book urgently needed by all those charged with introducing students to the classics. However, they do more than that. The book also has a mission, one motivated by a revolt against contemporary theory that too often refuses to engage with these "dead white males"... Contesting such charges, Hughes and his co-authors have little difficulty in demonstrating that Marx and Weber especially "are at the heart of contemporary intellectual life", and that far too much of today′s theorising lacks the roots essential to support rigorous thinking. Against much current caricature, they detail how sociology as a discipline was, from its very inception a revolt against the Enlightenment premise of the rational individual actor... Reading Hughes et al one cannot but insist that all debate should be suspended until participants are thoroughly conversant with the classical tradition.... quite indispensable′ - The Times Higher Education Supplement

Wes Sharrock has spent his entire career since 1965 in sociology until his retirement in 2017 at the University of Manchester. His main interests have been in the philosophy of social science and in ethnomethodology, and he has published widely on issues of sociological principle and empirical research in these areas. Wes has explored two central themes—the relevance of fieldwork and an understanding of ordinary language for an understanding of social practice and the respecification of social theory—pursuing them across a huge variety of settings, from ordinary scenes of everyday social life through to complex domains of practical action and reasoning in various academic and industrial work situations. An ethnomethodologist of international reputation, alongside his other contributions, Wes coedited with Mike Lynch the four-volume 2003 Sage collection Harold Garfinkel.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780803986367
ISBN 10	080398636X
Title	Understanding Classical Sociology
Author	John Hughes
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Sage Publications Ltd
Year published	1995-05-10
Number of pages	240
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.