Sociology : the basics / Martin Albrow.

By: Albrow, Martin Material type: Text

TextLanguage: English Publication details: London ; New York : Routledge, 1999. Description: xiv, 203 p. : ill. ; 21 cmISBN: 0415172632 (hb); 0415172640 (pb); 9780415172639Subject(s): SociologyDDC classification: 301 LOC classification: HM1 | .A625 1999Online resources: Publisher description | WorldCat details

Contents:

TOC 1 The nature of human society 1 -- The world and society 2 -- From species to humanity 5 -- Humankind and culture 5 -- Sex and gender 8 -- Evolution and history 11 -- Shaping the world 13 -- Money and capital 13 -- Institutions and collectivities 17 -- Countries and nations 20 -- The globe 21 -- Human society in practice 23 -- Social relations 23 -- Types of human association 25 -- Constructing and performing society 27 -- 2 The science of sociology 31 -- The rise of the discipline 31 -- Science and reality 31 -- Origins 34 -- Paradigms and discourse 37 -- Methods of research 41 -- Theory and metaphor 41 -- Concepts in research 43 -- Explanation 46 -- Triangulation 49 -- Intellectual craftsmanship 52 -- Professional practice 56 -- Ideology and objectivity 56 -- Freedom for values 59 -- Professionalism 62 -- Lifelong learning 65 -- 3 Sociological theory 69 -- Old and new directions 69 -- The old theoretical agenda 69 -- The contemporary problem for theory 72 -- The unit of analysis 75 -- Power and critique 77 -- Constituting society 81 -- Ideal types 81 -- Mediation 84 -- Sociation 90 -- Structuration 94 -- Boundaries and identities 99 -- Difference 99 -- Identity 101 -- Trust 103 -- 4 Social institutions 107 -- From functions to practices 107 -- Institutions in practice 107 -- Institutional theory 110 -- Changes in the life-spheres 114 -- Beyond state societies 114 -- Work for human needs 119 -- Environment as global risk 126 -- The autonomy of culture 131 -- Persons and God 135 -- Beyond institutionalism 138 -- 5 Society in the future 141 -- Open futures 141 -- The ignorance society 141 -- The control freaks 143 -- Accounting for change 145 -- Surviving the present 145 -- Grand narrative 149 -- The future of capitalism 153 -- Capitalist society 153 -- The limits of capitalism 155 -- Scenarios 159 -- Towards a human society 163 -- Specialisation and reductionism 163 -- Precarious humanity 165 -- The way ahead 166.

Summary: Summary: This is a book for anyone who wants to know what sociology is and what sociologists do. In a subject which has changed dramatically over the last twenty years, Sociology: The Basics offers the most up-to-date guide to the major topics and areas of debate. It covers among other things: sociology and society; laws, morality and science; social relations; power and communication; society in the future becoming a sociologist. Clearly written, concise and comprehensive, Sociology: The Basics is an essential introductory handbook.

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Holdings ( 1 )
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Holdings
Item type	Current library	Collection	Call number	Copy number	Status	Date due	Barcode	Item holds
Text	Dr. S. R. Lasker Library, EWU Reserve Section	Non-fiction	301 ALS (Browse shelf(Opens below))	C-1	Not For Loan		15559

Total holds: 0

Includes bibliographical references and index.

TOC 1 The nature of human society 1 --
The world and society 2 --
From species to humanity 5 --
Humankind and culture 5 --
Sex and gender 8 --
Evolution and history 11 --
Shaping the world 13 --
Money and capital 13 --
Institutions and collectivities 17 --
Countries and nations 20 --
The globe 21 --
Human society in practice 23 --
Social relations 23 --
Types of human association 25 --
Constructing and performing society 27 --
2 The science of sociology 31 --
The rise of the discipline 31 --
Science and reality 31 --
Origins 34 --
Paradigms and discourse 37 --
Methods of research 41 --
Theory and metaphor 41 --
Concepts in research 43 --
Explanation 46 --
Triangulation 49 --
Intellectual craftsmanship 52 --
Professional practice 56 --
Ideology and objectivity 56 --
Freedom for values 59 --
Professionalism 62 --
Lifelong learning 65 --
3 Sociological theory 69 --
Old and new directions 69 --
The old theoretical agenda 69 --
The contemporary problem for theory 72 --
The unit of analysis 75 --
Power and critique 77 --
Constituting society 81 --
Ideal types 81 --
Mediation 84 --
Sociation 90 --
Structuration 94 --
Boundaries and identities 99 --
Difference 99 --
Identity 101 --
Trust 103 --
4 Social institutions 107 --
From functions to practices 107 --
Institutions in practice 107 --
Institutional theory 110 --
Changes in the life-spheres 114 --
Beyond state societies 114 --
Work for human needs 119 --
Environment as global risk 126 --
The autonomy of culture 131 --
Persons and God 135 --
Beyond institutionalism 138 --
5 Society in the future 141 --
Open futures 141 --
The ignorance society 141 --
The control freaks 143 --
Accounting for change 145 --
Surviving the present 145 --
Grand narrative 149 --
The future of capitalism 153 --
Capitalist society 153 --
The limits of capitalism 155 --
Scenarios 159 --
Towards a human society 163 --
Specialisation and reductionism 163 --
Precarious humanity 165 --
The way ahead 166.

Summary:
This is a book for anyone who wants to know what sociology is and what sociologists do. In a subject which has changed dramatically over the last twenty years, Sociology: The Basics offers the most up-to-date guide to the major topics and areas of debate. It covers among other things: sociology and society; laws, morality and science; social relations; power and communication; society in the future becoming a sociologist. Clearly written, concise and comprehensive, Sociology: The Basics is an essential introductory handbook.