Classical Theorists Relevance to Today

Throughout the history of Sociology, we have drawn on classical theorists in order to interpret in a modern manner. It is said that science is like an art of which the observers utilizes in a similar fashion. It’s the idea that science has changed over years especially in paradigm shifts (Kuhn Cycle) regarding of theories (Golanski1998). It is the familiarity within the history of science that periodically changes. In general, the same applies for classical theories. Regardless of the classical theories, which have been modernly contested, they are recognized as a standard and launching point in order for contemporary theories to develop. Observing classical theories, one thing to take note is the observers survey their perspective from the outside the margins as regard from the perspective within (symmetry postulate). It allows removing the observers from within (i.e. Durkheim, Simmel, Marx). However, not all-classical theorist utilized the same approach, as they examined from within the margins, thus implementing themselves as the observers (i.e. Du Bois & Wells-Barnett). Not to mention, the idea of relativism in which we comprehend the knowledge, once again deriving from the classical theories. Classical theories serves as a building block revealing the construction of an emerging collective society, which allows contemporary theorists to continuously adding to previous theories and supplementing it in a modern manner.

Durkheim, (1858-1917), observed the stability of community and the social structure (Hurst, p. 13). He saw conflict declining as society progress. He also implemented the idea of social facts and that society reflects their customs and values such as placed in a totem pole (Lukes, p. 50). With these aspects, ...

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