The Sociological Ambition: Elementary Forms of Social and Moral Life / Edition 1

by Chris Shilling, Philip A Mellor

Overview

In a comprehensive and innovative reassessment of the discipline, this book argues that classical and contemporary social theories must be studied in relation to the ambition that shaped and established sociology: the ambition to comprehend the relationship between social and moral life. Surveying a range of sociological analyses from Comte to feminism, postmodernism and rational choice theory, this book examines the various attempts that have been made to reconstruct the discipline over the last century, and the challenges facing it today.

The book situates sociology in its historical, philosophical and theological contexts and examines how the founders of the discipline developed competing analyses of the processes elementary to social and moral life through their distinctive sociological contributions. Individual chapters examine 'Human Sociology', 'Sacred Sociology', 'Tragic Sociology', 'Heroic Sociology' and 'Normative Sociology'. The book moves on to discuss post-classical thought, and the attempted reconstruction of the subject. Separate chapters are devoted to 'Conflict Sociology', 'Feminist Sociology', 'Racial Sociology', 'Rational Sociology' and 'Post//Modern Sociology'.

The result is a landmark work in recent sociological study. Accomplished, erudite and alive with ideas, the book will be required reading for students of sociology, social theory, religious studies and cultural studies.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780761965497
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	10/19/2001
Series:	Published in association with Theory, Culture & Society
Pages:	238
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.52(d)

About the Author

Chris Shilling is Professor of Sociology in SSPSSR at the University of Kent at Canterbury, UK. Having completed a BA in Politics and an MA in Social and Political Thought at the University of Sussex, he was awarded his Ph D in the Sociology of Education at The Open University. Growing increasingly dissatisfied with cognitive conceptions of agency and disembodied theories of social and cultural processes, his research and writing from the late 1980s has sought to contribute to the embodiment of sociology and sociological theory and to promote the interdisciplinary field of 'body studies.' He has lectured widely in Europe and North America, has written on embodiment in relation to a wide range of substantive issues (from religion, archaeology, sport, music and health and illness, to work, survival, technology and consumer culture) and his publicationshave been translated into a number of different languages. Chris Shilling's major books include Changing Bodies: Habit, Crisis and Creativity (Sage, 2008), Embodying Sociology: Retrospect, Progress and Prospects (editor, Blackwells, 2007), The Body in Culture, Technology and Society (Sage, 2005) and, with Philip A. Mellor, The Sociological Ambition (Sage, 2001) and Re-forming the Body. Religion, Community and Modernity (Sage, 1997). He is currently editor of The Sociological Review Monograph Series and is continuing to research and write on embodiment as a foundational grounding for social thought and social research.

Philip Mellor is Professor of Religion and Social Theory at University of Leeds.

Table of Contents

PART ONE: CLASSICAL SOCIOLOGY
Beginnings
Human Sociology
Sacred Sociology
Tragic Sociology
Heroic Sociology
Normative Sociology
PART TWO: POST-CLASSICAL SOCIOLOGY
Conflict Sociology
Feminist Sociology
'Racial' Sociology
Rational Sociology
Post/Modern Sociology
Conclusion

Editorial Reviews

'The Sociological Ambition is a superb book... It is beautifully written, expertly edited and renders complex and original ideas entirely accessible... This is a modern classic' -Journal of Contemporary Religion

‘If sociology is to retain a sophisticated rationality and an ultimate concern for social well being, plus a commitment to combining scholarly protocols with moral obligations then The Sociological Ambition will be one of its key works' - Auto/Biography 2001

‘The Sociological Ambition can be read both as a first-rate account of the sociological enterprise from its inception and as a critical evaluation of sociology today... Shilling and Mellor challenge contemporary sociology to regain its integral vision and its moral purpose. Conceived as a provocative and constructive intervention this work nonetheless can be seen as a chilling indictment' - Mike Gane, University of Loughborough

‘The Sociological Ambition is a refreshing, innovative and very well written addition to social theory, which will also serve as an important new text for those who teach courses in the field' - George Ritzer, University of Maryland

From the Publisher