The writings of Marx, Durkheim, and Weber are prolific and diverse and so practically, like most textbooks, we need to consider these great thinkers separately. Nonetheless, this paper's primary purpose is to examine them as together defining the foundations and problematic of modern Sociology. This problematic primarily concerns the social effects of the ascendancy of western, industrial, capitalist modernity. While both Weber and Durkheim are much more positive than Marx about modernity's social effects, they are all nonetheless concerned with its potential challenges and problems. In sum, first, this paper introduces students to the seminal works of Marx, Weber, and Durkheim that are treated as laying down the foundations of modern Sociology. Second, it compares and relates their different ways and the different tools they deployed to understand their common object of inquiry: the social causes and effects of western capitalist modernity.

This paper is committed to engaging students in a dialogue. Lectures are at the heart of this dialogue and are the thread of coherence that links with readings and tutorials. So it is assumed that students will attend lectures in person! Nonetheless, in order to cater for people's diverse situations and changing needs, the lectures will all be on Panopto. However, it is emphasised that if you cannot attend lectures in person, please make sure you do watch them on Panopto.

This paper is directly organised via Moodle. This includes Powerpoint presentations, Panopto recordings, readings, announcements, essay submission and grading.

All lectures and tutorials should be attended, and associated readings done. One needs to do about six hours work a week to keep up with this paper. Further reading and writing, around 20 hours, will be required in order to complete each essay.