Living Theory : The Application of Classical Social Theory to Contemporary Life.
- 2nd ed.
- 1 online resource (191 pages)
Cover -- Half Title -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Dedication -- Table of Contents -- Preface -- Chapter One The Contemporary Relevance of Old Theories -- Introdution -- Organization of the Book -- Symptoms of Strain and Change -- The Value of Theory and Theories of Value -- The Relevance of Theories past: A Primer on Their Perspectives -- The View from Marx's Eyes -- The View from Durkheim's Eyes -- The View from Simmel's Eyes -- The View from Weber's Eyes -- Conclusion -- Questions to Ponder -- Chapter Two The Janus-Faced Nature of Society -- Introduction -- Modern Western Society -- Society as Industrial, Urban, and Centralized -- Society as Rational -- Society as Individualistic -- The Postmodern Element -- Forces of Integration and Disintegration: Society's Janus Face -- Durkheim: The Division of Labor and Collective Conscience -- Marx: The State, Ideology, and Capitalism -- Simmel: The Web of Modern Life -- Weber: Modern Society's Rational Structuring -- Conclusion -- Questions to Ponder -- Chapter Three Private Lives and Public Connections -- Introduction -- The Meaning of the Natural Self -- The Individual and the Community: A Delicate Balance -- The Public Eye in the Private Life -- Separation and Suicide -- Conclusion -- Questions to Ponder -- Chapter Four Separatism and Status -- Introduction -- The Arrangement of Space -- Gated Communities -- The Maintenance of Exclusivity -- Racial Ghettos -- Conclusion -- Questions to Ponder -- Chapter Five Cynicism, Distrust, and Corruption -- Introduction -- Symptoms of an Uncivil Society -- Unraveling the Roots of Political Corruption -- The Role of Education -- Bureaucracy, Capitalism, Money, and Corruption -- The Misanthropic Tendency -- Money Talks -- The Push for Profit -- "Well Whatever" -- Conclusion -- Questions to Ponder -- Chapter Six Commodification and the Value of Human Life. Introduction -- The Superficial Self -- Beauty as Cult and Body as Icon -- The Influence of Class and Capitalism -- People Bought and Sold: The World of Celebrities -- Capitalism in Entertainment -- Enchantment and Disenchantment of Celebrity -- The Value of Human Life -- Rational Medicine and the Giving of Life -- Conclusion -- Questions to Ponder -- Chapter Seven The Polarization of Economic Resources -- Introduction -- Inside the U.S. Class Structure -- Understanding Processes of Economic Inequality -- Economic Inequality between Status Groups -- Accounting for Inequality between Groups -- Conclusion -- Questions to Ponder -- A Summing Up -- Glossary of Classical Theoretical Terms -- Notes.
This short, jargon-free text helps students see how the classical theories of Marx, Durkheim, Simmel, and Weber address many of the issues and problems of contemporary society.