Capitalism and modern social theory : an analysis of the writings of Marx, Durkheim and Max Werber

This Book Offers A New Analysis Of The Works Of The Three Authors Who Have Contributed Most To Establishing The Basic Framework Of Contemporary Sociology. Recent Scholarship Has Illuminated Important Aspects Of The Ideas Of Marx, Durkheim And Weber, But Has Also Given Rise To A Variety Of Divergent Interpretations Of Their Writings. One Of The Main Objectives Of Capitalism And Modern Social Theory Is To Dispel Some Of The Obscurities And Misunderstandings Which Have Resulted. The First Three Sections Of The Book, Based On Close Textual Examination Of The Original Sources, Contain Separate Treatments Of Each Writer. Mr. Giddens Is Particularly Concerned To Demonstrate The Internal Coherence Of Their Respective Contributions To Social Theory. The Concluding Part Of The Book Discusses The Principal Ways In Which Marx's Standpoint Can Be Compared And Contrasted With The Other Two Authors, Showing That Some Of The Conventional Views On This Matter Are Misconceived. Marx -- Marx's Early Writings -- Historical Materialism -- The Relations Of Production And Class Structure -- The Theory Of Capitalist Development -- Durkheim -- Durkheim's Early Works -- Durkheim's Conception Of Sociological Method -- Individualism, Socialism, And The Occupational Groups -- Religion And Moral Discipline -- Max Weber -- Max Weber : Protestantism And Capitalism -- Weber's Methodological Essays -- Fundamental Concepts Of Sociology -- Rationalisation, The World Religions, And Western Capitalism -- Capitalism, Socialism And Social Theory -- Marx's Influence -- Religion, Ideology And Society -- Social Differentiation And The Division Of Labour -- Postscript : Marx And Modern Sociology. Bibliography: P. 248-254. Contents......Page 4 Preface......Page 6 Introduction......Page 10 List of Abbreviations......Page 16 1. Marx's early writings......Page 18 2. Historical materialism......Page 35 3. The relations of production and class structure......Page 52 4. The theory of capitalist development......Page 63 5. Durkheim's early works......Page 82 6. Durkheim's conception of sociological method ......Page 99 7. Individualism, socialism and the 'occupational groups'......Page 112 8. Religion and moral discipline......Page 122 9. Max Weber: Protestantism and capitalism......Page 136 10. Weber's methodological essays......Page 150 11. Fundamental concepts of sociology......Page 162 12. Rationalisation, the 'world religions', and western capitalism......Page 186 13. Marx's influence......Page 202 14. Religion, ideology and society......Page 222 15. Social differentiation and the division of labour......Page 241 Postscript: Marx and modern sociology......Page 260 Bibliography......Page 265 Index......Page 272 Giddens's analysis of the writings of Marx, Durkheim and Weber has become the classic text for any student seeking to understand the three thinkers who established the basic framework of contemporary sociology. The first three sections of the book, based on close textual examination of the original sources, contain separate treatments of each writer. The author demonstrates the internal coherence of their respective contributions to social theory. The concluding section discusses the principal ways in which Marx can be compared with the other two authors, and discusses misconceptions of some conventional views on the subject (source : site de l'éditeur)