Social Theory in the Twentieth Century

Introduction. 1. A Timeless Order and its Achievement: Structuralism and Genetic Structuralism. 2. The Biological Metaphor: Functionalism and Neo-Functionalism. 3. The Enigma of Everyday Life: Symbolic Interactionism, the Dramaturgical Approach and Ethnomethodology. 4. The Skilful Accomplishment of Social Order: Giddens's Structuration Theory. 5. The History of the Present: Foucault's Archaeology and Genealogy. 6. The Spread of Reason: Habermas's Critical Theory. 7. The Invasion of Economic Man: Rational Choice Theory. 8. Eroding Foundations: Positivism, Falsificationism and Realism. Conclusion. Notes. Index.