Anthony Giddens 
In Defence of Sociology 
Essays, Interpretations and Rejoinders

Is there a future for sociology? To many, sociology seems to have
lost its way. Born of the ideas of Auguste Comte in the nineteenth
century, sociology established itself as ‘the science of
modernity’, linked to a progressive view of history. Yet today the
idea of progress has more or less collapsed; with its demise, some
say, sociological thought has moved to the margins of contemporary
intellectual culture.

In this book the author challenges such an interpretation,
showing that sociology continues to hold a central position within
the social sciences. Looking both to the past of sociology and the
diversity of intellectual trends found in the present-day, Giddens
explores many aspects of the sociological heritage. Comte,
Durkheim, Parsons, Marshall, and Habermas are among the figures
covered. Giddens also connects sociological work directly to
current political issues and places the discipline of sociology in
the context of broad questions of social and political theory.

This book will be of interest to undergraduates and professionals
in the fields of sociology, anthropology and political science.

Table of Content

Preface.

1. In Defence of Sociology.

2. Living in a Post-Traditional Society.

3. What is Social Science?.

4. Functionalism: Aprés la Lutte.

5. ‘Britishness’ and the Social Sciences.

6. The Future of Anthropology.

7. Four Myths in the History of Social Thought.

8. Auguste Comte and Positivism.

9. The Suicide Problem in French Sociology.

10. Reason Without Revolution?: Habermas’s Theory of
Communicative Action. .

11. Literature and Society: Raymond Williams.

12. T. H. Marshall, the State and Democracy.

13. Brave New World: The New Context of Politics.

14. The Labour Party and British Politics.

Notes.

Index.

About the author

Anthony Giddens is a British sociologist who is known for his theory of structuration and his holistic view of modern societies.