Editing George Ritzer (section)

=== Metatheory ===
[[Metatheory]] can be defined as the attainment of a deeper understanding of theory, the creation of new theory, and the creation of an overarching theoretical perspective. There are three types of metatheorizing: M<sub>u</sub>, M<sub>p</sub>, and M<sub>o</sub>. Through the application of the three subsets of metatheory, Ritzer argues that the field of sociology can create a stronger foundation, experience "rapid and dramatic growth", and generally increase not only the knowledge of metatheory but social theory in general.<ref name= Metatheorizing>{{cite journal | title = Metatheorizing in Sociology | first = George | last = Ritzer | journal = [[Sociological Forum]] | volume = 5 | issue = 1 | year = 1990 | pages = 3–15 | jstor = 684578 | doi = 10.1007/BF01115134 | s2cid = 189919029 }}</ref>

The first category of metatheory (M<sub>u</sub>), aims at being a means of attaining a deeper understanding of theory. Within the greater category of M<sub>u</sub>, Ritzer establishes four other subsets: internal-intellectual, internal-social, external-intellectual, and external-social. The internal-intellectual sector of M<sub>u</sub> identifies the "schools of thought" and the structure of current sociologists and social theories. The internal-social subtype identifies connections between sociologists and connections between sociologists and society. The last two subsets of M<sub>u</sub> are looking more at the macrolevel of sociology than the other two subsets. The third subtype of M<sub>u</sub> is the external-intellectual view of sociology; it looks at different studies and their concepts, tools, and ideas in order to apply these aspects to sociology. The fourth, and final, subset is external-social where the impact of social theory in a larger societal setting is studied.<ref name= "Metatheorizing" />

The second (M<sub>p</sub>), aims at being a prelude to theory development. New social theory is created due to the complex study and interpretation of other sociologists. For example, [[Karl Marx]]'s theories are based on [[Hegel]]'s theories. The theories of the American sociologist, [[Talcott Parsons]], are based on the theories of [[Émile Durkheim]], [[Max Weber]], [[Vilfredo Pareto]], and [[Alfred Marshall]].<ref name= "Metatheorizing" />

The last (M<sub>o</sub>), aims at being a source of perspectives that overarch sociological theory.<ref name= "Metatheorizing" /> Influenced by [[Thomas Kuhn]]’s ''[[The Structure of Scientific Revolutions]]'' (1962), Ritzer has long advocated the view that social theory is improved by systematic, comparative and reflexive attention to implicit conceptual structures and oft-hidden assumptions.<ref name="Ritzer, G. Sociology 1974">Ritzer, G. ''Sociology: A Multiple Paradigm Science''. [[Allyn and Bacon]], Boston, 1974,</ref>

Key works include ''Sociology: A Multiple Paradigm Science'' (1975), ''Toward an Integrated Sociological Paradigm'' (1981), ''Metatheorizing in Sociology'' (1991), and ''Explorations in Social Theory: From Metatheorizing to Rationalization'' (2001). See also Ritzer’s edited ''Metatheorizing'' (1992).