Modernost i klasična sociologija: Ambivalentnost klasične sociološke teorije
Modernity and Classical Sociology: Ambiguity of Classical Sociological Theory

Summary/Abstract: The main subject of this discussion is relation between modernity and classical sociology. In this article is shown that sociology, as a specific science, is an answer to social crisis of modern society. Industrialization and political revolutions are two main forces responsible for constitution of modern society. Here is emphasized importance of social context in which sociological thought was born. In this article the authors also shows that sociology is founded under the influence of two contrary lines of thought. Although Enlightenment had significant impact on classical sociology, for early sociologists ideology of conservatism was the main source of ideas. Influence of these two contradictory perspectives is the main reason for ambiguity of classical sociological theories. In other words, classical sociology has a critical approach to different aspects of modern society, but, at the same time, this criticism does not mean rejection of modern society as a whole. Classical sociologists thought that the course of social process could not be changed. Thus the restoration of former social structures is neither possible nor desirable at all. Duality of traditional and modern values is a universal characteristic of all classical sociological theories. How this duality is expressed in the works of Comte, Spencer, Durkheim, Tönnies and Weber is examined further in the article. At the end the author places an emphasis on the relevance of classical sociology today.

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