Classical sociological traditions

Classical sociology asks why modern society holds together, and why it sometimes falls apart. Durkheim studied social facts and solidarity, Weber studied meaning and rationalisation, and Marx studied class and capitalism. For example, when a village festival brings strangers together, Durkheim would see collective conscience at work, while Weber would ask what the ritual means to participants and Marx would ask who pays for it and who profits. Together, these three traditions give you three different lenses for almost every NET question on theory.