I always find myself asking folks this question. Here are the four people who most affect the way that I think as a prospective scholar and as a professional social worker:
- Ludwig von Mises – His Focus on Methodological Individualism; His Promulgation of The Banes of Economic Ignorance; And How a Working Understanding of (Basic) Economics Will Forever Change The Way That One Sees The World.
- Max Weber – His Broad Application of Social Action; His Extraordinary Knowledge of History, Law, World Religion, and Economics
- Alexis de Tocqueville – His Knowledge of History; His Application Ethnography; And His Focus on Public Opinion as a Social Force
- Booker T. Washington – Emphasis on Educational, Moral, and Economic Development; Grassroots Organizing; Unflinching Denunciation of Injustice and Slavery; Booker T., Furthermore, Was The First To Aver That Politics Is Secondary to Economic Development for Blacks
Only Weber and Mises considered themselves sociologists, and Weber only did so during the final decade of his life. However, in my opinion, these guys were amazing sociologists. Booker T., I will add, was not only an amazing sociologist; Booker T. was the quintessential social worker.
Who are the people who most shaped the way that you think, your professional virtues, and the ways that you look to conduct research?
Brian A. Pitt
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Good question. I’d have to also include Weber and Tocqueville and include James Coleman and Robert Putnam. Although I don’t necessarily agree with some of Putnam’s conclusions, I think that Making Democracy Work is such a pleasure to read and is a fantastic example of using multiple sources of evidence to support a theoretical claim.
What would you read of Booker T. Washington in an undergraduate theory course? This year we read DuBois’ The Souls of Black Folk. It is a roundabout way to get to social theory, but has some relevant parts. Up From Slavery is a great book, but is perhaps even more roundabout as a path to theory.
Gruntled,
I would read My Life and My Work and Up From History. Both works present Booker T. as a purposive actor operacting under the rigid institutional constraint of racism. If you only have time for one, read Up From History first.
Thomas Sowell for writing in a simple way that people can understand.
FA Hayek for the emphasis on knowledge and spontaneous order.
Max Weber for being awesome overall.
Gordon Tullock for his work on rent-seeking.
Of course, this is for the moment, but you get the idea.
Milton Friedman for making sense of it all.
F. A. Hayek for his labeling of “Fatal Conceit.”
Ronald Reagan for putting it in action.
Thanks for the feedback!