Capitalism and Classical Sociological Theory

Capitalism and Classical Sociological Theory, written specifically for one-semester courses, provides a solid foundation for understanding contemporary debates on social theory. This authoritative text provides in-depth coverage of the classical works of Marx, Durkheim, and Weber and selectively extends that coverage by examining the important works of Georg Simmel and early feminist social writers such as Mary Wollstonecraft and Jane Addams. It explains how classical sociological theory emerged through debates about social transformation and European Enlightenment, offering a balanced coverage of the most significant contributions by the canonical theorists. Extended passages from the original texts allow for a fuller historical context, and every attempt is made to make the classical canon relevant to capitalism in the twenty-first century by drawing upon issues related to contemporary debates about globalization, culture, and the global financial crisis of 2008-09.

The authors are successful in achieving their goal of creating a text that 'encourages the reader to reflect upon capitalism in the early 21st century, contemporary society and on their own life experiences, and to evaluate the relevance of classical sociological theory for our times.' Capitalism and Classical Sociological Theory is a clear illustration that theory 'written in a distant epoch' still has the power to speak to the present.