Rethinking sociological theory introducing and explaining a scientific theoretical sociology

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction -- Functionalism -- Social constructionism -- Marxian conflict theory -- Weberian conflict theory -- World-systems analysis -- Exchange and rational choice theory -- Cultural materialism -- Social evolutionism -- Sociobiology -- Eclecticism -- Epilogue : toward synthesis -- Appendix A: deconstructing postmodernism -- Appendix B: the author expands his criticisms and debates his critics -- Appendix C: conceptual problems and theory choice -- Appendix D: the "lay of the land" in contemporary theory -- References -- Index.