Founding Theory of American Sociology, 1881-1915

Bibliographic Data

ID11628858
AuthorsJean B Quandt (corresponding author), Roscoe C Hinkle
Year1981
Volume86
Issue2
Pages472-472
Publication date1981-04-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe American Historical Review (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0002-8762 • E-ISSN: 1937-5239
PublisherOxford University Press (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.2307/1857600
OpenAlexW1974662040
LanguageEN
Citations received34

Based on a comparative study of the theories of such sociologists as Ward, Sumner, Keller, Giddings, Ross, Small and Cooley, this is a systematic and rigorous analysis of the main features of earlier sociological theory in the USA. The author identifies and characterizes the basic assumptions of early American sociological thought in terms of an abstract analytical scheme. He shows that early theory focused on social ontological interests, the pervasive ontological stance being evolutionary naturalism, within which the problems of social origins and social change tended to be paramount. He also points out that some sociologists preferred a social process theory. In his final chapter the author suggests the degree of similarity and dissimilarity, of continuity and discontinuity, between earlier and later theory in American sociology, and provides a basis for explaining and interpreting the character of the prevalent assumptions of one period in American theory in relation to other periods

Character (mathematics · Epistemology · Naturalism · Relation (database · Similarity (geometry · Social science · Social theory · Sociological theory · Sociology · Contemporary Sociological Theory and Practice · Mathematics · Philosophy