First published in 1999, this volume represents Kit-Man Li's attempt to wrestle with the complicated issues and ideas drawn from Habermas' theory of communicative action, Weber's studies of western civilization and Elias' insights on sociological theory. Li examines Weber, Habermas and Elias in turn in order to refine our understanding of modern Western civilization.

Kit-Man Li

1. Introduction. 2. Weber's Account of Western Civilization I: Capitalism, the State and the Law. 3. Weber's Account of Western Civilization II: Culture and Values. 4. Elias's Account of Western Civilization. 5. Elias and Modern Human Conditions. 6. Habermas's Theory of Communicative Action. 7. Habermas's Conceptual Distinctions and His Critique of Capitalist Modernization. 8. Theory Validation and Evaluation: The Case of Western Civilization.