Living Theory: The Application of Classical Social Theory to Contemporary Life - Softcover

Hurst, Charles E.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0205277756 ISBN 13: 9780205277759

Publisher: Pearson, 1999

Synopsis

Living Theory is provocative and current in the issues it addresses. Although the book presents substantial information on the core content of classical social theories, its focus is on the application of theoretical arguments to social distance and separation in the U.S. Hurst chose Marx, Durkheim, Simmel, and Weber as classical representatives. Students are more likely to become interested in social theory if they can understand its relevance to what's happening in society today. This engaging new text does just that!

Living Theory analyzes major features of modern society from the classical theory point of view, and suggests how postmodern qualities might be accounted for by this theory. Chapters focus on specific issues such as the conflict between the rights of individuals and their obligations to society, the Internet's influence on transforming private lives into public information, gated communities and racial ghettos, political corruption, treating individuals as commodities in the world of beauty, entertainment and medicine, and the growing discrepancies in economic resources between individuals and groups.

About this title

From the Back Cover

Living Theory: The Application of Classical Social Theory to Contemporary Life, 2nd edition analyzes major features of modern society from the classical theory point of view, and suggests how modern life might be explained from this viewpoint.

The author examines the works of four classical figures - Marx, Durkheim, Simmel, and Weber - because of their continuing influence on social theory, and because they addressed many of the central issues we confront in modern society.

Topics new to this edition include:

• New electronic technologies
• The battle over valued property
• The role of trust in society
• Governmental secrecy
• Trafficking in human organs

About the Author

Charles E. Hurst is emeritus professor of sociology, having taught at The College of Wooster for 38 years. His research has focused on issues of poverty and inequality in the U.S., the use of social theory to understand contemporary social issues, and the nature of Amish society. He has also served as a consultant to various countywide social agencies. He is author of Living Theory: The Application of Classical Social Theory to Contemporary Life, and co-author of An Amish Paradox: Diversity and Change in the World’s Largest Amish Community, which won the Dale W. Brown 2011 Book Award for outstanding scholarship in Anabaptist and Pietist Studies

Edition details

• Publisher: Pearson
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0205277756
• ISBN 13: 9780205277759
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 161