In Defense of Sociology (Translation Series of Social Theory)

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 as a whole, they help to demonstrate the view I hold about the important position of sociology in the social sciences. At the same time, I also tried to meet some people's requests by selecting some articles that were not yet printed and many people wrote to me asking for the articles they needed. This book includes both long and substantial articles as well as short and concise ones. Does sociology have a future? Many people believe that sociology seems to have come to an end. Sociology was born from the thought of Auguste Comte in the 19th century. Since its inception, sociology has built itself into a "science of modernity," closely linked to the ever-progressing historical view. However, today, the concept of progress has declined to some extent; some people believe that with its demise, sociological thought has also moved to the edge of contemporary academic culture. In this book, the author challenges the above, while also demonstrating that sociology will continue to hold an important position in the social sciences. Giddens examines the past of sociology and the various trends in current academia, exploring many aspects of the tradition and heritage of sociology. Comte, Durkheim, Parsons, Marshall, and Habermas are all included. Giddens also directly links sociological work to current political issues and places this science in the context of numerous social theories and political problems. This book is beneficial for university students and professionals in the fields of sociology, anthropology, and political science.