Charles Horton Cooley
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Overview
One of the founders of sociology in the United States, Charles Horton Cooley (1864-1929) is perhaps best known for his concepts of the looking-glass self and the primary group. But according to Glenn Jacobs, he also deserves to be remembered as the first scholar of his generation to develop a viable concept of the social. Characterizing Cooley as an "exceptional exceptionalist," Jacobs shows how his unique adaptation of Adam Smith's liberalism and his rejection of Herbert Spencer resulted in a notion of the social that set him apart from the burgeoning professional social science movements of his time. By examining the full range of Charles Horton Cooley's contributions to belles lettres as well as social science, often allowing him to speak for himself, Jacobs makes a case for elevating Cooley's rank among the most influential American sociologists.Synopsis
One of the founders of sociology in the United States, Charles Horton Cooley (1864-1929) is perhaps best known for his concepts of the looking-glass self and the primary group. But according to Glenn Jacobs, he also deserves to be remembered as the first scholar of his generation to develop a viable concept of the social. Characterizing Cooley as an "exceptional exceptionalist," Jacobs shows how his unique adaptation of Adam Smith's liberalism and his rejection of Herbert Spencer resulted in a notion of the social that set him apart from the burgeoning professional social science movements of his time. By examining the full range of Charles Horton Cooley's contributions to belles lettres as well as social science, often allowing him to speak for himself, Jacobs makes a case for elevating Cooley's rank among the most influential American sociologists.