In Defense of Sociology

Author: Anthony Giddens
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-12-01
Features: The articles in this book were written and published in different environments and at different times. In the process of selecting articles, I followed two main criteria: , the articles I selected all reflect the theme of this book in one way or another, and overall, they help to demonstrate the view I hold about the important position of sociology within the social sciences. At the same time, I also tried to meet some requests by selecting articles that were not yet printed and many people wrote to me asking for articles they needed. This book includes both long and substantial articles as well as short and concise ones. From his own perspective, the author engages in debates about issues in the field of sociology, particularly the development and status of sociology, and refutes various critical views of sociology around the world. In this book, the author challenges the aforementioned views while demonstrating that sociology will continue to hold an important position in the social sciences. Giddens examines the past of sociology and the various current trends in academic research, exploring many aspects of the tradition and heritage of sociology, including Comte, Durkheim, Parsons, Marshall, and Habermas. Giddens also directly links sociological work to current political issues and places sociology as a science within the context of numerous social theories and political problems.