Final answer:
The classical sociologists Karl Marx, Max Weber, and Émile Durkheim laid crucial groundwork for sociology, developing key theoretical perspectives during a time of massive social change. Their insights into social conflict, organization, and functionalism helped shape the discipline as it is known today.
Step-by-step explanation:
Founders of Sociology
Important names of those who laid the groundwork for the field of sociology include Karl Marx, Max Weber, and Émile Durkheim. These classical sociologists developed theoretical approaches that are foundational to understanding how societies function. Karl Marx focused on the conflicts that drive societal change, particularly those related to class and capitalism. Max Weber offered insights into social organization, authority, and the impact of culture and religion on society. Émile Durkheim introduced the concept of functionalism, asserting that each aspect of society serves a purpose and is necessary for the stability of the whole. Their contributions were vital during a period marked by the Industrial Revolution and major social and political upheavals.
Other notable figures include Georg Simmel, who wrote extensively on social and political issues, and early American sociologists such as William Sumner, Franklin Giddings, and Albion Small, who were instrumental in introducing and refining sociological research methods and theories in the United States.