Theoretical Sociology

Contents: Preface. 1. Introduction to sociology. 2. Theorising classical sociology. 3. Importance of theory in sociology. 4. Structural functionalism. 5. Manifest and latent functions. 6. Conflict theory. 7. Symbolic interactionism. 8. Role theory. 9. Reinforcement theory. 10. Marxist theory. 11. Affect control theory. 12. Social alienation. 13. Change theories. 14. The great social thinkers and their theories. 15. Auguste Comte. 16. Emile Durkheim. 17. Karl Marx. 18. R.K. Merton. 19. Talcott Parsons. 20. Theoretical trends in environmental sociology. Bibliography.

This book sets out a generative structuralist conception of general theoretical sociology; its philosophy, its problem and its methods. The field is defined as a comprehensive research tradition with many intersecting subtraditions that share conceptual components. This book discusses major developments in sociological thoughts and briefly analyses about the social thinkers. A must read for students and teachers of Indian Universities this is an authenticated text cum reference.