Overview

This volume explores diverse sociological conceptions of history and social change. The diversity of views is explained in terms of the relationship between social interest and the categorical structure of social thought and is illustrated by examples from the works of Robert A. Nisbet and Harry Braverman. Socially-structured variations of the general relationship are identified and explored.

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9780820411286

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Reviews

With this book, Professor Chertok enhances the ability of sociology to address the theoretical problems of social order and social change. His 'sociology of sociology' approach identifies the substance of the debate between the order/conflict explanations of social theory in articulating the relationships among social interests, models of society and conceptual frameworks. Chertok skillfully blends components from theory, method and history in describing these relationships, stressing the social context and social position from which social theory is generated. His conceptualization of categorical structures illuminates the ways in which class interests shape the categories through which people think and thus order their explanations of society. (Barbara A. Owen, California State University, Fresno) This book is an excellent example of a classical approach to a contemporary problem. It is a work of scholarship which will be of interest both to those who work and write within the field of sociological theory and also to undergraduate students of sociology. The idea of applying Mannheim's analysis to contemporary theory offers a unique solution to the problem of intellectual relativism and does so in a way that will be most useful to students. The work could serve as an important supplement to existing textbooks in sociological theory. (Geoffrey Tesson, Laurentian University) Contemporary social and political theory has never totally abandoned critical thought as an analytica tool to understand our social world but there are periods when that critical light burns less brightly. Such is our era and Professor Chertok has done a masterful job of carefully reassessing classical social thought in an attempt to bring critical theory to our attention once again. He is at his best in his discussion of Braverman and Dahrendorf precisely because he reminds us, through these authors, of the importance of class, something which seems to evade too many contemporary sociologists. Make no mistake, this is an important book. (Dean E. Frease, University of Lethbridge)This work is at once a tour de force of the most fundamental theoretical perspectives comprising the discipline of sociology, and a very concrete analysis of the relationship between class and sociological theory. The argument is finely crafted, building level upon level of understanding for the reader in a most intellectually exciting and satisfying manner... The importance of this study cannot be overstated. There is a full plate for those who will accept the analytical challenge and continue this crucial line of inquiry. (Contemporary Sociology)Contemporary American sociology has been embroiled in the 'order/conflict debate.' There have been a variety of responses to this issue: most have attempted to advance one orientation over the other; others have argued for a synthetic approach; some have avoided the dichotomy altogether. Until now, however, little in the way of a 'sociological' approach to the problem has been offered. To this end, Jeffers Chertok's 'Social Interest and Categorical Structure': Conceptions of 'History' and 'Social Change' makes a major contribution... In the best of the classical tradition, he makes a significant contribution to the sociology of knowledge. (Critical Sociology)

Author Information

The Author: Jeffers Chertok is a Professor of Sociology at Eastern Washington University. He has previously published in the area of sociological theory, social stratification, and the sociology of knowledge. His current research interests include the analytical structure of ruling elite theory and the structural origins of right-wing extremism. He received a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Oregon.

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