{"product_id":"problematics-of-sociology-9780520206755","title":"Problematics of Sociology","description":"\u003cdiv\u003eThese skillfully written essays are based on the Georg Simmel Lectures delivered by Neil J. Smelser at Humboldt University in Berlin in the spring of 1995. A distillation of Smelser's reflections after nearly four decades of research, teaching, and thought in the field of sociology, the essays identify, as he says in the first chapter, \". . . some central problematics—those generic, recurrent, never resolved and never completely resolvable issues—that shape the work of the sociologist.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEach chapter considers a different level of sociological analysis: micro (the person and personal interaction), meso (groups, organizations, movements), macro (societies), and global (multi-societal). Within this framework, Smelser covers a variety of topics, including the place of the rational and the nonrational in social action and in social science theory; the changing character of group attachments in post-industrial society; the eclipse of social class; and the decline of the nation-state as a focus of solidarity.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe clarity of Smelser's writing makes this a book that will be welcomed throughout the field of social science as well as by anyone wishing to understand sociology's essential characteristics and problems.\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Neil J. Smelser","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42960259907702,"sku":"9780520206755","price":47.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0671\/1374\/6550\/files\/CoreSourceHub_59709234-530c-468d-9368-7a79e2c0cdc7.jpg?v=1767856457","url":"https:\/\/ingramacademic.com\/products\/problematics-of-sociology-9780520206755","provider":"Ingram Academic \u0026 Professional","version":"1.0","type":"link"}