Abstract

In this paper I discuss the typology of four sociologies put forward by Boudon and I apply it to social stratification studies. I review the work by J. Goldthorpe, G. Esping-Andersen and E. O. Wright as representative of scientific, cameral, and critical sociology, respectively. I also examine R. Sennett's and U. Beck's work as examples of expressive sociology. The aim of the paper is twofold. First, I show that in the field of social stratification the differences between scientific, cameral and critical sociology are not clear cut at all, and I try to explain why this is the case. Second, I argue that there is no real need for an expressive sociology of social stratification.