Ian Craib compellingly shows the value of studying classic thinkers such as Marx, Weber, Durkheim, and Simmel alongside the more popular contemporary questions.  Providing an account of the key ideas of classical social theory, Dr Craib establishes their relevance today, their enduring significance, and their contribution to understanding contemporary problems.   Written in a direct, personal style, Classical Social Theory's thematic structure helps the reader compare the theorists systematically, and the book-by-book approach pays close attention to each thinker's key texts, quoting the most important passages and analyzing them in a clear, straightforward way.  Other student-friendly features include: *  biographical details and an elementary overview of the work of Marx, Weber, Durkheim, and Simmel *  Dramatis Personae with brief details of the life and thought of other relevant thinkers *  Glossary covering important terms and phrases used in the text  Classical Social Theory is an indispensable guide to the key thinkers in Sociology for anyone new to the subject.

Classical Social Theory

Politics & Social Sciences

Craib, Ian

Social Sciences

Oxford University Press

Ian Craib compellingly shows the value of studying classic thinkers such as Marx, Weber, Durkheim, and Simmel alongside the more popular contemporary questions. Providing an account of the key ideas of classical social theory, Dr Craib establishes their relevance today, their enduring significance, and their contribution to understanding contemporary problems. Written in a direct, personal style, Classical Social Theory's thematic structure helps the reader compare the theorists systematically, and the book-by-book approach pays close attention to each thinker's key texts, quoting the most important passages and analyzing them in a clear, straightforward way. Other student-friendly features include: * biographical details and an elementary overview of the work of Marx, Weber, Durkheim, and Simmel * Dramatis Personae with brief details of the life and thought of other relevant thinkers * Glossary covering important terms and phrases used in the text Classical Social Theory is an indispensable guide to the key thinkers in Sociology for anyone new to the subject.

Philosophers and social scientists share a common goal: to explore fundamental truths about ourselves and the nature of the world in which we live. But in what ways do these two distinct disciplines inform each other and arrive at these truths? The 10th anniversary edition of this highly regarded text directly responds to such issues as it introduces students to the philosophy of social science. While staying true to the writing of the late Ian Craib, this perennial text has been brought up to date by Ted Benton. This new edition includes previously unpublished personal insights from both authors, incorporates new commentaries on classic content and features an additional chapter on recent developments in the field. The book: • Addresses critical issues relating to the nature of social science • Interrogates the relationship between social science and natural science • Encompasses traditional and contemporary perspectives • Introduces and critiques a wide range of approaches, from empiricism and positivism to post structuralism and rationalism. Written in an engaging and student-friendly style, the book introduces key ideas and concepts while raising questions and opening debates. A cornerstone text in the Traditions in Social Theory series, this book remains essential reading for all students of social theory.

Philosophy of Social Science: The Philosophical Foundations of Social Thought (Traditions in Social Theory, 7)

Benton, Ted

Philosophy

PALGRAVE~MACMILLAN

Philosophers and social scientists share a common goal: to explore fundamental truths about ourselves and the nature of the world in which we live. But in what ways do these two distinct disciplines inform each other and arrive at these truths? The 10th anniversary edition of this highly regarded text directly responds to such issues as it introduces students to the philosophy of social science. While staying true to the writing of the late Ian Craib, this perennial text has been brought up to date by Ted Benton. This new edition includes previously unpublished personal insights from both authors, incorporates new commentaries on classic content and features an additional chapter on recent developments in the field. The book: • Addresses critical issues relating to the nature of social science • Interrogates the relationship between social science and natural science • Encompasses traditional and contemporary perspectives • Introduces and critiques a wide range of approaches, from empiricism and positivism to post structuralism and rationalism. Written in an engaging and student-friendly style, the book introduces key ideas and concepts while raising questions and opening debates. A cornerstone text in the Traditions in Social Theory series, this book remains essential reading for all students of social theory.

Philosophy of Social Science: The Philosophical Foundations of Social Thought (Traditions in Social Theory, 2)

Modern Social Theory: From Parsons to Habermas

The revised edition of this widely acclaimed textbook provides a clear, accessible and comprehensive introduction to modern social theory. 
As with the frist edition, the book is based around the themes of structure and action. After the introductory chapters which examine the nature of theory and its role in the social world, the book then turns to theories of action and the inability of these theories to comprehend social structures in a coherent way. 
Part I covers: Parson's structural-functionalism and the development of conflict theory and neofunctionalism; rational choice theory; symbolic interactionism; ethnomethodology and structuration theory. 
Part II looks at structuralism, structuralist Marxism, and the development of post-structuralist and postmodernist theory. 
Part III examines Critical Theory and the work of Jurgen Habermas. 
In conclusion, Ian Craib discusses current trends in theory and what might be expected in the future. 
The second edition has been revised througout. There are new chapters on rational choice theory and structuration theory and existing chapters have been extended to deal with the development of neofunctionalism, postmodernism and the recent works of Habermas as well as recent developments in other approaches. 
Throughout, the aim of the book is to demystify a difficult subject area, emphasizing the practical and everyday nature of theoretical thinking in the context of making sense of a rapidly changing world.

The revised edition of this widely acclaimed textbook provides a clear, accessible and comprehensive introduction to modern social theory. As with the frist edition, the book is based around the themes of structure and action. After the introductory chapters which examine the nature of theory and its role in the social world, the book then turns to theories of action and the inability of these theories to comprehend social structures in a coherent way. Part I covers: Parson's structural-functionalism and the development of conflict theory and neofunctionalism; rational choice theory; symbolic interactionism; ethnomethodology and structuration theory. Part II looks at structuralism, structuralist Marxism, and the development of post-structuralist and postmodernist theory. Part III examines Critical Theory and the work of Jurgen Habermas. In conclusion, Ian Craib discusses current trends in theory and what might be expected in the future. The second edition has been revised througout. There are new chapters on rational choice theory and structuration theory and existing chapters have been extended to deal with the development of neofunctionalism, postmodernism and the recent works of Habermas as well as recent developments in other approaches. Throughout, the aim of the book is to demystify a difficult subject area, emphasizing the practical and everyday nature of theoretical thinking in the context of making sense of a rapidly changing world.

Women's Studies

Palgrave Macmillan, Gordonsville, Virginia, U.S.A.

This classic text integrates details of recent concepts in modern sociological thinking as well as being based around the themes of structure and action.

Sociology

St.Martin's Press

Philosophy of Social Science: The Philosophical Foundations of Social Thought (Traditions in Social Theory)

This is the first book in the new series, is a comprehensive introduction to philosophical problems in the social sciences, encompassing traditional and contemporary perspectives. It is readily accessible, with a firm emphasis on communicating difficult philosophical ideas clearly and effectively to those from outside this discipline. Ted Benton and Ian Craib move systematically through major topic areas, from positivism to post-structuralism, using a wide variety of examples and cases to illustrate key themes.

This is the first book in the new series, is a comprehensive introduction to philosophical problems in the social sciences, encompassing traditional and contemporary perspectives. It is readily accessible, with a firm emphasis on communicating difficult philosophical ideas clearly and effectively to those from outside this discipline. Ted Benton and Ian Craib move systematically through major topic areas, from positivism to post-structuralism, using a wide variety of examples and cases to illustrate key themes.

Ian Craib provides an introduction to the work of Anthony Giddens, and a critical discussion of his ideas. He sets out the background to and sources for Giddens' development of structuration theory and describes the main features of his theory. He also discusses the substantive contributions that Giddens has made to the theory of social class and his historical sociology, including his conception of modernity. "Anthony Giddens" is intended to provide an accessible introduction to Giddens' work and also to situate structuration theory in the context of other approaches. It is argued that while Giddens has made some important contributions to social theory, structuration theory is not the transcendent grand theory that it is sometimes claimed to be. It does not replace other approaches nor does it incorporate some of the more important insights of modern philosophy and psychotherapy. This book should be of interest to students of sociology and philosophy.

Anthony Giddens

Routledge

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Books by Craib, Ian

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Craib, Ian. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Classical Social Theory

Classical Social Theory

Philosophy of Social Science: The Philosophical Foundations of Social Thought (Traditions in Social Theory, 7)

Philosophy of Social Science: The Philosophical Foundations of Social Thought (Traditions in Social Theory, 2)

Modern Social Theory: From Parsons to Habermas

Modern Social Theory: From Parsons to Habermas

Modern Social Theory: From Parsons to Habermas

Philosophy of Social Science: The Philosophical Foundations of Social Thought (Traditions in Social Theory)

Philosophy of Social Science: The Philosophical Foundations of Social Thought (Traditions in Social Theory)

Anthony Giddens