2.2: Three Sociological Theoretical Perspectives

A good starting point at which we can learn about theory is an introduction to the classical sociological perspectives of Émile Durkheim (1858-1917), Karl Marx (1818-1883), and Max Weber (1864-1920).

To be sure, there are many others that contributed and continue to contribute to sociological theory beyond these three figures, however, the vast majority of theory can be mapped back to their perspectives or have at least some traces of their perspectives built into the overall logic of these three theorists. In order to manage the distinctions between these perspectives, think of each perspective as a different pair of glasses with distinct lenses through which one can see the world. In other words, one pair of glasses presents a perspective of our social world in a particular way, while another pair presents a different perspective of our social world in yet another way. It is important to note that similar to the discussion on social constructions in the introduction, the use of these glasses and the lenses through which we see the world are not natural, but instead something constructed, as well as something that can be taken on and off; not necessarily something that we need to have on all the time. This suggests that we are not only in control of the perspectives through which we see the social world, but we’re also in control of how and when we wish to see it as such, as no glasses are naturally affixed to our faces.

In this analogy, there are three different pairs of glasses that present three different perspectives as follow: (1) Structural Functionalism Theory; (2) Conflict Theory; and (3) Symbolic Interactionism Theory¹. As mentioned above, these three theoretical perspectives were developed by three different individuals that are part of the classical canon of sociological theory. Functionalism is associated with Émile Durkheim, while Conflict is associated with Karl Marx. And although not necessarily considered the founder of Interactionism, Max Weber’s work was highly influential on its development. In the next section, we will explore how the view of society, through these different glasses, corresponds with the perspectives of these three different individuals.

1. Although I introduce these perspectives with the term “Theory” appended to the end of each, these perspectives are more commonly known as follows: Structural Functionalism as “Functionalism,” Conflict Theory as “Conflict,” and Symbolic Interactionism as “Interactionism.”