The Blackwell Companion to Major Contemporary Social Theorists (Blackwell Companions to Sociology)

The Blackwell Companions to Sociology provide introductions to emerging topics and theoretical orientations in sociology as well as presenting the scope and quality of the discipline as it is currently configured. Essays in the Companions tackle broad themes or central puzzles within the field and are authored by key scholars who have spent considerable time in research and reflection on the questions and controversies that have activated interest in their area. This authoritative series will interest those studying sociology at advanced undergraduate or graduate level as well as scholars in the social sciences and informed readers in applied disciplines. viii PREFACE contemporary theory begins with an essay by Todd Stillman, "Metatheorizing Contemporary Social Theorists." Stillman catalogues the forces that contribute to intellectual breakthroughs and develops a systematic approach to the intellectual and social factors that have influenced contemporary social theorists. Overall, these volumes present essays by leading contemporary social theorists on their classical predecessors and contemporary peers. Having written chapters or essays on many of the people covered here, I have a great appreciation for these essays. In fact, I learned a great deal from each of them and I believe that most, if not all, readers will find these essays edifying. Beyond the contributors, there are a number of other people to thank. I begin with Susan Rabinowitz, who proposed that I undertake this project and was of great help throughout its creation and development. Ken Provencher at Blackwell helped to put the paperback volumes into print. I could not have done these books without the help of Douglas Goodman, who not only wrote the introductory essay to the classical volume but read and commented on all of the essays and helped with the innumerable details involved in bringing this project to fruition. I also need to thank Todd Stillman, who authored the introduction to the contemporary volume and kept track of the revisions. My undergraduate research assistants Zinnia Cho and Jan Geesin also provided valuable research assistance. The Blackwell Companion to Major Contemporary Social Theorists is a survey of contemporary social theory that focuses on the thinkers themselves. In original essays especially commissioned for this volume, leading experts and practitioners examine the life and work of 13 major theorists such as Elias, Baudrillard, Giddens, and Butler. Includes 13 original essays by leading scholars on major contemporary social theorists. Covers key figures such as Elias, Goffman, Foucault, Habermas, Giddens, Bourdieu, and Butler. Essays include biographical sketches, the social and intellectual context, and the impact of the thinker's work on social theory generally. Includes bibliographies of the theorist's most important works as well as key secondary works. Can be used in conjunction with The Blackwell Companion to Major Classical Social Theorists , edited by George Ritzer, for a complete reference source in social theory. The Blackwell Companion to Major Contemporary Social Theorists......Page 5 Contents......Page 7 Preface......Page 9 List of Contributors......Page 11 Introduction: Metatheorizing Contemporary Social Theorists......Page 17 1 Robert K. Merton......Page 28 2 Erving Goffman......Page 50 3 Richard M. Emerson......Page 79 4 James Coleman......Page 106 5 Harold Garfinkel......Page 138 6 Daniel Bell......Page 170 7 Norbert Elias......Page 194 8 Michel Foucault......Page 223 9 Jürgen Habermas......Page 244 10 Anthony Giddens......Page 263 11 Pierre Bourdieu......Page 290 12 Jean Baudrillard......Page 326 13 Judith Butler......Page 349 Index......Page 369 Introduction: metatheorizing contemporary social theorists / Todd Stillman Robert K. Merton / Piotr Sztompka Erving Goffman / Gary Alan Fine and Philip Manning Richard M. Emerson / Karen S. Cook and Joseph Whitmeyer James Coleman / Siegwart Lindenberg Harold Garfinkel / Anne Rawls Daniel Bell / Malcolm Waters Norbert Elias / Richard Kilminster and Stephen Mennell Michel Foucault / Barry Smart Jürgen Habermas / William Outhwaite Anthony Giddens / Christopher G. A. Bryant and David Jary Pierre Bourdieu / Craig Calhoun Jean Baudrillard / Douglas Kellner Judith Butler / Patricia T. Clough. The Blackwell Companion to Major Contemporary Social Theorists is a survey of contemporary social theory that focuses on the thinkers themselves. In original essays especially commissioned for this volume, leading experts and practitioners examine the life and work of thirteen major theorists such as Elias, Baudrillard, Giddens, and Butler. "Blackwell Companion to Major Social Theorists" assembles essays on classic and contemporary social theorists. Designed to serve as a reference for sociologists and those in related disciplines with an interest in social theory, it might also serve as a basic text in courses in social theory Includes original essays by leading scholars, this companion to the major contemporary social theorists covers the life and work of 13 major theorists such as Elias, Baudrillard, Habermas, Butler, Giddens and Bourdieu. Bibliographies of the theorists' works are included. Robert King Merton was born on July 4, 1910 in Philadelphia, to a family of working-class Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe.