Sociological Lives and Ideas: An Introduction to the Classical Theorists

Despite their role in founding and defining the discipline of sociology, the field's classical theorists typically receive only cursory attention in standard introductory texts. Written specifically for undergraduate students, the supplemental text, Fred Pampel's Sociological Lives and Ideas brings to life the fundamental ideas of Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, Max Weber, Georg Simmel, and George H. Mead by placing them in the context of each theorists' biography. By exploring the lives and times of these key figures, students will gain a richer understanding of their intellectual legacies, as well as of ways in which their work can be applied to current issues