A Treatise on Social Theory
Volume 2. Substantive Social Theory
- Author: W. G. Runciman, Trinity College, Cambridge
- Date Published: February 1989
- availability: Available
- format: Paperback
- isbn: 9780521369831
Paperback
Other available formats:
eBook
Looking for an examination copy?
This title is not currently available for examination. However, if you are interested in the title for your course we can consider offering an examination copy. To register your interest please contact [email protected] providing details of the course you are teaching.
-
This second of three volumes sets out a general account of the structure and evolution of human societies. The author argues first that societies are to be defined as sets of roles whose incumbents are competitors for access to, or control of, the means of production, persuasion and coercion; and second, that the process by which societies evolve is one of competitive selection of the practices by which roles are defined analagous, but not reducible, to natural selection. He illustrates and tests these theses with evidence drawn from the whole range of societies documented in the historical and ethnographic record. The result is an original, powerful and far-reaching reformulation of evolutionary sociological theory which will make it possible to do for the classification and analysis of societies what Darwin and his successors have done for the classification and analysis of species.
Read more- Completes the trilogy, applying original social theory to concrete case of twentieth-century English society
- Volumes I and II widely praised as 'remarkable', 'magisterial' and 'a bravura performance'
- Well-known and highly respected author, Runciman known not only for social theory but also for leading the Commission on Social Justice, and chairing The Royal Commission on Criminal Justice
Reviews & endorsements
'This is a masterpiece: in its scope and its command of historical and ethnographic detail, it is reminiscent of Economy and Society; in its systematization more gripping.' David Lockwood
See more reviews'It is an astonishing bravura performance … I have not come across another approach to comparative history which has impressed me so much.' Eric Hobsbawm
'This is an important and remarkable book. It is extremely ambitious offering nothing less than a general theory of human society, and the confrontation of that theory with the historical material. The quality of the material is commensurate with the ambition.' Ernest Gellner
Customer reviews
Not yet reviewed
Be the first to review
Review was not posted due to profanity
×Product details
- Date Published: February 1989
- format: Paperback
- isbn: 9780521369831
- length: 508 pages
- dimensions: 229 x 29 x 152 mm
- weight: 0.74kg
- availability: Available
Table of Contents
1. Introduction: the case of twentieth-century England
2. The case reported
3. The case explained
4. The case described
5. The case evaluated.
Related Books
related journals
Sorry, this resource is locked
Please register or sign in to request access. If you are having problems accessing these resources please email [email protected]
Register Sign in» Proceed
You are now leaving the Cambridge University Press website. Your eBook purchase and download will be completed by our partner www.ebooks.com. Please see the permission section of the www.ebooks.com catalogue page for details of the print & copy limits on our eBooks.
Continue ×Are you sure you want to delete your account?
This cannot be undone.
Thank you for your feedback which will help us improve our service.
If you requested a response, we will make sure to get back to you shortly.
×