The interpretive frame: Sociology and liberalism -- Part I. The civilization of liberalism: 1200-1800 : The origins and nature of liberal society -- Basic transformations in the Western view of nature -- Basic transformations in the Western view of human nature -- Part II. The origins of sociology : The new science of history: Vico (1668-1744) -- The new science of society: Montesquieu (1689-1755) -- The new society of science: Condorcet, saint-simon, and comte -- Science and the problem of social science -- Part III. The maturing tradition : Evolution and the new phase of modern science -- Herbert spencer (1820-1903) -- William graham sumner (1840-1910) -- Lester F. Ward (1841-1913) -- Part IV. The emergence of pluralistic positivism : The new phase of modern society and science -- Emile Durkheim (1858-1917) -- Georg Simmel (1858-1918) -- Vilfredo pareto (1848-1923) -- Max Weber (1864-1920) -- Part V. Pluralistic positivism in the United States : Pragmatism: The new phase of science in the new world -- Charles Horton Cooley (1864-1929) -- William isaac thomas (1863-1947) -- Pitirim sorokin (189-1968) -- Talcott parsons (1902-) -- Part VI. Summary and application -- The general character of sociology -- Contemporary orientations in sociology

1. Sociology -- History
2. Philosophy
3. Political philosophy
4. Sociology