Founding Sociology? Talcott Parsons and the Idea of General Theory.
Produktdetaljer
<i>'John Holmwood has produced a book which is bold if not foolhardy, but also timely. A distinguished quality of scholarship is manifest throughout the text. Many conceptually complex ideas are expressed clearly and directly...Without doubt, this will be a useful source of access both to Parsonian theory and to contemporary arguments in sociology. Hence, in these terms, Holmwood's book is at the cutting edge of current sociological debate.'</i><br /><b>British Educational Research Journal 1997</b><br /><br /><i>'In sum, this is a provocative..contribution to the debate about Parsons and general theory that serves as a prolegomenon to a revived explanatory sociology.'</i><br /><b>Sociological Research Online</b>
Acknowledgements.
Introduction.
1. The Age of Sociology?
2. The Theoretical Impasse.
3. The Idea of General Theory.
4. The Action Frame of Reference.
5. Structural-Functionalism, Theoretical Breakdown and the Embrace of contradiction.
6. A Marxist alternative?
7. Action and Explanation.
Conclusion.
- covers the theories of one of the central figures in contemporary sociological thought
- clear, accessible text demystifies a difficult body of work
- makes a significant contribution to current critical debate surrounding an important but controversial figure