Why Remain 'Classical'?

The article presents a paper focused on the need for theoretical unification in social theory that was presented during an international symposium in Paris, France in June 2003. It questions whether sociology can hold its own against better disciplines, such as economics, history, and political philosophy, when the sociological ground in developed is transformed or disintegrates. The development of sociological theory by responding to new questions or providing news answers to old questions and the relation of classical sociology with the decline of the idea of society are discussed.