Culture in Classical Social Theory

it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” The point he was making was that his own contribution to knowledge would not have been possible without those of his intellectual predecessors. Likewise, contemporary cultural theory has been made possible by significant earlier work. Coming to an understanding of this foundation is therefore a step of great importance. While we could begin this process with a discussion of thinkers extending back through the Enlightenment and on to Ancient Greece, perhaps the most useful place to start is in the body of literature generally thought of as classical social theory, and more particularly the work of Marx, Durkheim, Weber, and Simmel. Many current debates are shot through with foundational themes, problems, and perspectives that originate in their works. As thinkers with powerful minds, these scholars provided a set of core concepts and tools that are still serviceable around a hundred years after they were developed. When they are not drawing directly upon them, current authors as likely as not are revising, refining, or critiquing lines of thinking that originated around a century or so ago. We forget history at our peril, and so knowledge of these resources provides an essential starting point and common ground for all cultural theorists. Many excellent texts already exist on the so-called “founding fathers.” Consequently, this chapter does not pretend to offer a comprehensive introduction to their work, but rather it aims to briefly highlight some of the key concepts and themes in their approaches to culture.