Final answer:
The principal contributors to the functionalist perspective in sociology are Émile Durkheim and Talcott Parsons, not Karl Marx or Max Weber, whose works are related to other sociological theories.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main contributors to the functionalist perspective in sociology are Émile Durkheim and Talcott Parsons. While Karl Marx and Max Weber are also significant figures in sociological theory, their work does not align with functionalism. Marx is better known for his conflict perspective on societal issues, focusing on class struggles and economic disparities, while Weber's work provided a comprehensive analysis of modern society with a focus on bureaucratic organization and the rationalization of social actions.
Émile Durkheim is one of the principal architects of the functionalist view, which sees society as an organism with interdependent parts, each serving a specific function. Talcott Parsons later expanded on Durkheim's ideas, elaborating on how different institutions and social practices fulfill necessary functions to maintain social order and stability. Functionalists view society's structures and institutions as existing to serve important roles for the continuity and health of society as a whole.