Contemporary Social Theory (Volumes 1 and 2)

Author: Gao Xuanhang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-11-01
Features: Under the vast starry sky, we do not acknowledge any absolute prophets, nor do we acknowledge any absolute authority. We hope we can always freely focus on what we wish to focus on and speak what we wish to speak. Social theory, as a spiritual product of intellectual creation, consists of two main constituent factors: knowledge accumulation and intellectual creation. The former relies on the accumulation of historical development and is gradual; the latter depends on the spiritual creation of thinkers, which is essentially discontinuous and leapfrogging. The emergence and popularity of any mode of thinking are determined by the conditions of specific historical and cultural backgrounds and traditions. On one hand, due to the limitations of the aforementioned specific conditions, the emergence and development of any mode of thinking are inherently limited; on the other hand, once a mode of thinking emerges and develops, it produces objective and effective results and influences that cannot be restricted or controlled by subjective human power, nor can it be immediately and comprehensively replaced by any new mode of thinking chosen subjectively.
—Gao Xuanhang
The Western social theories that emerged after the 1960s are the theoretical crystallization of the long-term development of social thought in various Western countries across different eras. They represent the most important theoretical foundation for contemporary Western social sciences, including sociology. After comprehensively discussing the basic characteristics, socio-historical background of emergence and development, fundamental developmental trajectory, and major explored topics of contemporary social theory from a high-level perspective, this book, with the latest available data, elaborates incisively on the basic content and evolutionary trajectory of "postmodern social theory," "social theory constructed in the lived world," "the reconstruction and new development of systemic functionalism," "from structuralism to structuration theory," and "critical social theory," respectively, based on the fundamental characteristics and thematic nature of social theory. For scholars who wish to systematically understand and grasp the basic content and developmental trajectory of contemporary social theory, this work is undoubtedly a must-have on their desk; for experts and scholars researching this field of contemporary social theory, the book also provides valuable insights and inspiration for reference.