Classical social theory and the sociology of money

This thesis develops the argument that money is a social construction with wide effects on social life, but that this fact is under-theorized by sociologists. The focus of this work is on classic theoretical statements on money by Adam Smith, Karl Marx, and Georg Simmel. The method used was a close textual analysis of these major theoretical works pertaining to money. The research shows that these texts relate to four issues of broad sociological relevance: What are the social origins of money? How is money objectified or expressed in society? What is the role of money in social structures and social relations? How does money create inequality and economic classes in societies? I conclude that the classical theoretical answers to these questions provide a sound foundation for contemporary sociology of money.