Main Currents in Sociological Thought in 2 Vols

Book Details:

• Author: Raymond Aron

• ISBN: 9788131612705

• Language: English

• Edition: 2022

• Pages: 744

• Cover: Hardcover

• Sale Territory: This edition may not be sold outside India

• Publisher: Rawat Publications

About the Book:

Volume 1
Raymond Aron’s "Main Currents of Sociological Thought" is a monumental two-volume exploration of the sociological tradition, often considered the definitive work in its field. At its core, Aron’s study is an intellectual engagement with modernity, specifically seeking to answer the question: What defines the essence of the modern order that emerged in the eighteenth century and continues to shape our experiences today? This first volume delves into three major traditions of social thought:

• The French liberal school of political sociology, with Montesquieu and Tocqueville at its helm

• The Comtean tradition, which anticipated Durkheim’s focus on social unity over politics

• The Marxist tradition, which emphasized the class struggle and historical necessity.

With fairness and thoroughness, Aron presents the views of these thinkers in relation to the fundamental issue of modernity. The volume includes a foreword by Pierre Manent, a well-respected French philosopher, positioning Main Currents as a significant contribution to both political philosophy and the history of sociological thought. The introduction by Daniel J. Mahoney and Brian C. Anderson further contextualizes this work within Aron’s broader intellectual legacy.

Volume 2
In the second volume, Aron continues his analysis, focusing on three monumental figures who helped shape sociology as it evolved into the twentieth century:

• Emile Durkheim, who built upon Auguste Comte’s vision of sociology as a science, grounded in consensus and moral validation

• Vilfredo Pareto, an Italian theorist known for his critique of traditional morality and emphasis on the elitist structure of all societies

• Max Weber, a German sociologist deeply concerned with the bureaucratization and rationalization that marked the modern era, while also reflecting on the possibilities for human freedom.

Aron critiques and draws insights from these thinkers, highlighting both the enduring value of their contributions and his disagreements with their conclusions. This volume, together with Volume 1, serves as an extensive survey of the leading social thinkers from the Enlightenment through to the early twentieth century, offering a profound examination of sociology’s development. Moreover, as highlighted by Mahoney and Anderson, this work not only serves as a history but challenges contemporary social science to retain the ambition of an older, more philosophically informed approach to sociology.

Main Currents of Sociological Thought remains essential reading for anyone interested in understanding the philosophical foundations of modern sociology and the intellectual history of social thought.