Contested Knowledge: Social Theory Today

By Steven Seidman

Book Overview

Contested Knowledge has established itself as a leading text that brings social theory into the present day by providing the most up to date perspectives on social theory by one of the most important thinkers of our time, Steven Seidman. Responds to current issues, debates, and new social movements. Reviews sociological theory from a truly contemporary perspective. Covers both classical and contemporary theories. Combines social analysis and moral advocacy, and demonstrates how social theory can contribute to the making of a better world. Challenges social scientists to renew their commitment to viewing social knowledge as playing an important moral and political role in public life. Revised new edition organizes contents more appealingly for students, and includes an insightful new chapter on social theory today and short biographies on major social thinkers.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0631226710
• ISBN13: 9780631226710
• Release Date: November 2007
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
• Length: 296 Pages
• Weight: 0.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.7" x 0.8" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Great!

This book saved me in my Sociological Theory class. It gives overviews of the theorists and their theories. Easy to read.

A good overview of social thoery with a theme

In this book, Seidman displays the arc of sociological theory, starting with Comte and the Founding Fathers of sociology (Marx, Durkheim, & Weber). He then moves through to more contemporary theory, including post-structuralism (post-modernism). The purpose beghind this book is to look for the moral beliefs that are inevitably imbedded in any abstract theory of sociology. It is only one book, so it would be impossible for him to cover everything, but he does provide a starting point, and a very good one at that. I HIGHLY recomend reading the biographical information at the beginning of teh book, as it gives great insights into this work.