Acknowledgements vii
Introduction: the importance of sociological argument = 1
Karl Marx: sociology as radical criticism = 8
Introduction and overview = 8
Marx's method of presentation = 12
Scientific and historical comparisons = 16
The moral critique of capitalism = 22
Emile Durkheim: sociology as the identification of social facts = 27
Introduction and overview = 27
The distinctiveness of sociological explanations = 31
Social facts and the power of logical argument = 35
Sociological paradoxes = 41
Max Weber: sociology as the science of interpretive understanding = 46
Introduction and overview = 46
Ideal types and one-sided accentuation = 50
Multi-causality, methodological individualism and typologies = 55
Values and vocations = 61
Talcott Parsons: sociology as systematic reflection = 66
Introduction and overview = 66
Standing on the shoulders of giants = 70
The systematic differentiation of social roles = 75
Functionalist explanations = 80
Charles Wright Mills: sociology as an imaginative craft = 86
Introduction and overview = 86
Thinking big and being bold = 90
The exercise of imagination = 95
Plain speaking = 101
Erving Goffman: sociology as an eye for detail = 106
Introduction and overview = 106
Funny things and serious matters = 110
Metaphors of social life = 116
Understatement and implicit messages = 122
Michel Foucault: sociology as shocking = 127
Introduction and overview = 127
The history of the present = 132
Disciplinary narratives and discourses = 137
Leaving things open = 142
Ann Oakley: sociology as emancipation = 147
Introduction and overview = 147
The sociological unimagination = 152
Personal and political agendas = 157
Novel forms of sociological argument = 162
Conclusion = 169
The development of sociological arguments = 172
Personal and public agendas = 177
The art of sociological argument = 182
Bibliography = 190
Index 205
Introduction: the importance of sociological argument = 1
Karl Marx: sociology as radical criticism = 8
Introduction and overview = 8
Marx's method of presentation = 12
Scientific and historical comparisons = 16
The moral critique of capitalism = 22
Emile Durkheim: sociology as the identification of social facts = 27
Introduction and overview = 27
The distinctiveness of sociological explanations = 31
Social facts and the power of logical argument = 35
Sociological paradoxes = 41
Max Weber: sociology as the science of interpretive understanding = 46
Introduction and overview = 46
Ideal types and one-sided accentuation = 50
Multi-causality, methodological individualism and typologies = 55
Values and vocations = 61
Talcott Parsons: sociology as systematic reflection = 66
Introduction and overview = 66
Standing on the shoulders of giants = 70
The systematic differentiation of social roles = 75
Functionalist explanations = 80
Charles Wright Mills: sociology as an imaginative craft = 86
Introduction and overview = 86
Thinking big and being bold = 90
The exercise of imagination = 95
Plain speaking = 101
Erving Goffman: sociology as an eye for detail = 106
Introduction and overview = 106
Funny things and serious matters = 110
Metaphors of social life = 116
Understatement and implicit messages = 122
Michel Foucault: sociology as shocking = 127
Introduction and overview = 127
The history of the present = 132
Disciplinary narratives and discourses = 137
Leaving things open = 142
Ann Oakley: sociology as emancipation = 147
Introduction and overview = 147
The sociological unimagination = 152
Personal and political agendas = 157
Novel forms of sociological argument = 162
Conclusion = 169
The development of sociological arguments = 172
Personal and public agendas = 177
The art of sociological argument = 182
Bibliography = 190
Index 205