Seven Theories of Human Society

The social sciences cover a wide field, and in this introductory book Tom Campbell presents seven contrasting theories of significance for sociology, politics, economics, law, psychology, and history. His concern is to clarify the logical structure, methodological assumptions, and practicalimplications of the different theories, with the aim of encouraging informed and critical study of social thought. He begins in Part I with a discussion of the nature of social and political theory and an outline of the ways in which different theories may be compared and assessed. In Part II he examines and contrasts seven major theories. Although he presents the theories in terms of individual thinkers,each theorist provides a vehicle for the study of a particular important type of theory. Against the historical perspective of Aristotle's theory of man, Hobbes's egoistic theory, and Adam Smith's idea of the social system, Professor Campbell sets the modern giants: Marx and conflict theory,Durkheim and consensus theory, and Weber's theory of social action. Finally, Alfred Schutz serves as a bridge to such recent developments as ethnomethodology. The chronological order of presentation illustrates the development of social theory and the way in which it is affected by social change. The book concludes in Part III with a consideration of some of the philosophical issues which underlie the main differences between the seven types of social theory. The combination of information and analysis, and the selection of theorists of significance for a wide range of social sciences,make this book an invaluable introduction to the study of human society and historically important types of social theory.