The New Sociological Imagination

Front Cover
SAGE, 2006 M03 3 - 231 pages
C. Wright Mills' classic The Sociological Imagination has inspired generations of students to study Sociology. However, the book is nearly half a century old. What would a book address, aiming to attract and inform students in the 21st century? This is the task that Steve Fuller sets himself in this major new invitation to study Sociology.

The book:

" critically examines the history of the social sciences to discover what the key contributions of Sociology have been and how relevant they remain

" demonstrates how biological and sociological themes have been intertwined from the beginning of both disciplines, from the 19th century to the present day

" covers virtually all of sociology's classic theorists and themes

" provides a glossary of key thinkers and concepts.

This book sets the agenda for imagining Sociology in the 21st century and will attract students and professionals alike.

From inside the book

Contents

Introduction
1
DESPERATELY SEEKING SOCIOLOGY IN THE 21st CENTURY
9
Tales of the Academic Undead The Mysterious Disappearance of Society
11
The Social Sciences at Risk A Brief History of the Stakes
23
Socialism as the Elusive Synthesis at the Heart of Social Science
31
The Problem of Inheritance and Socialisms Ultimate Retreat to Naturalism
41
Towards a Renewal of Welfare and the Rediscovery of British Sociology
54
Interlude Todays Orwellian Turn in Social Science
62
Making the Difference between Sociology and Biology Matter Today
90
Beware of Darwinists Bearing Leftist Gifts The Struggle for Marxs Successor
107
Who or What Deserves Our Sympathy?
118
HUMANITY AS THE ENDANGERED SPECIES OF OUR TIMES
129
The Coming WorldHistoric Struggle in Science and Religion
131
Understanding the Fundamentalist Backlash against Secularism
147
Karma Secularized The Darwinian Turn in Development Policy
161
Might we become Nazis in Paradise?
183

THE BIOLOGICAL CHALLENGE TO SOCIAL SCIENCE
77
The Hidden Biological Past of Classical Social Theory
79
Is there no Escape from Human Nature?
196
Copyright

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About the author (2006)

Steve Fuller is a Professor of Sociology at Warwick University. Other titles of his include The New Sociological Imagination (SAGE, 2006), and popular The Intellectual (Icon Books, 2006).

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