Description
'In this remarkable collection of essays, Holton and Turner demonstrate that Parsonian sociology addresses the most central problems of our time – issues of sickness and health, power and inequality, the nature of capitalism and its possible alternatives. They develop a mature and original perspective on Parsons as the only classical theorist who avoided crippling nostalgia. Holton and Turner not only talk about Parsonian sociology in a profound and insightful way, they do it, and do it well. As sociology moves away from the rigid dichotomies of earlier debate, this book will help point the way.' – Jeffrey Alexander, Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in Sociology, UCLA
Table of Contents
Introduction Reading Parsons: Introductory Remarks, Robert J. Holton, Bryan S. Turner; Chapter 1 Talcott Parsons and the theory of economy and society, Robert J. Holton; Chapter 2 Sickness and social structure: Parsons’ contribution to medical sociology, Bryan S. Turner; Chapter 3 Parsons, Schutz and the problem of Verstehen, Roy Fitzhenry; Chapter 4 Parsons and his critics: on the ubiquity of functionalism, Bryan S. Turner; Chapter 5 Against nostalgia: Talcott Parsons and a sociology for the modern world, Robert J. Holton, Bryan S. Turner; S44 Bibliography of Talcott Parsons;
