Introduction to Sociological Theory Michele Dillon

The aim of Introduction to Sociological Theory to provide a solid foundation in sociological theory. It examines the key conceptual frameworks developed by sociology’s founding thinkers—Karl Marx, Émile Durkheim, and Max Weber—alongside the broader range of ideas that make up contemporary sociological theory.

The approach of the book is to show how sociological theory is not only abstract, but also highly practical and relevant for understanding the complexity of the social world we live in. This chapter outlined the historical background behind the emergence of sociology as an intellectual discipline, emphasizing the role of Enlightenment thought and Auguste Comte’s vision of sociology as a scientific field of social inquiry.

At the same time, the chapter highlighted how the subject matter of sociology—human social behavior and social processes—makes analysis and interpretation more complex than in the natural sciences.

Points to Remember

• Sociological theory is concerned with explaining empirical social phenomena.
• It focuses on social structures, including culture and institutional practices.
• It incorporates both macro-level and micro-level approaches to the study of society.
• It examines the interaction between individual and collective agency and structural forces.
• It develops critical and analytical thinking skills.
• Sociology is a relatively new discipline, with origins in the mid-nineteenth century.

The Enlightenment of the eighteenth century laid the groundwork for the emergence of sociology.

• An emphasis on reason and progress.
• A move away from myth, tradition, and despotism.
• The application of reason to politics, including ideals of equality and collective self-governance.
• Key historical moments such as the U.S. Declaration of Independence (1776) and the French Revolution (1789).

Scientific reasoning also played a crucial role in shaping sociology.

• An emphasis on observable and empirical phenomena.
• Auguste Comte’s view of sociology as the positive, empirical science of society.
• The idea that societies operate according to scientifically discoverable laws.
• Harriet Martineau’s contribution to sociology as the scientific study of morals and manners.
• The recognition that the subject matter of sociology differs from that of the natural sciences.
• The development of a scientific method that includes a sympathetic understanding of individuals.

Wilhelm Dilthey further expanded sociological thought by emphasizing sociology as a form of interpretive understanding.

Early observers of American society included Harriet Martineau and Alexis de Tocqueville. Their contrasting interpretations highlight the importance of recognizing how an observer’s social background and theoretical perspective shape what is observed, analyzed, and critiqued in society.

Michele Dillon is a well-known sociologist and currently serves as Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at the University of New Hampshire. She studied in Ireland and at the University of California, Berkeley, and her main research interests focus on the Catholic Church, especially issues of authority, autonomy, cultural change, and how religion and spirituality evolve over the life course.

She has written and edited many influential books on Catholicism and sociological theory, along with more than fifty academic articles published in leading journals. Her work has been widely supported by major research foundations, showing its importance and impact within the field.

Beyond her research, Dillon has played a major leadership role in professional sociological organizations related to the study of religion. She is also frequently invited to speak at academic events and to comment in the media on religion and social change.

Over the years, she has received numerous honors for her contributions to sociology and religious studies. She has been recognized internationally for the quality of her research and is regarded as one of the leading scholars in the sociology of religion today.