Sociological Theory Essay

The Rationale and Reading List for the Sociological Theory Field
The purpose of this comprehensive exam is to give me an opportunity to demonstrate mastery over relevant debates, theories, prominent theorists, and empirical findings in the major aspects (branches) of the sociological (social) theory. I will examine theoretical approaches to core issues, classic and emerging fundamental questions in sociological theory. For example, what is meant by sociological theory, what is the distinction between sociological and social theory, how theories are constructed, what are the (intellectual) roots of sociological theories, what are the central components, processes, forces or issues that influence/foster social change, what is the processes of

Thus, this part will provide an overview of developments in contemporary sociological theory from roughly post World War II to the present. Here, I will look at how changing social conditions and structures of modern societies, modernity, post-modernity, and new generation scholars produce new concepts and theories in sociological thinking. I will also look at the fundamental differences and their reasons between classical and contemporary sociological approaches. In the part of critical theory readings, I will look at the core issues of critical theory involve the discussions of social emancipation and the perceived pathologies of modern societies. The critical theory provides specific interpretations and explanations on the central economic, political and social dominations such as commodification, reification, fetishization, and critiques of various forms of rationality, mass consumerism, and popular culture. Critical theory also pays attention to a move away from the liberating ideas of enlightenment towards new forms of enslavement in the period of modernity. In this regard, I will look at the perspectives and critiques of critical theory over the possibility of human emancipation and