W. I. Thomas

W. I. Thomas
Thomas, before 1907
Born
William Isaac Thomas

(1863-08-13)13 August 1863
Died5 December 1947(1947-12-05) (aged 84)
Resting placeOld Gray Cemetery,
Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Tennessee
University of Chicago
Known forThomas theorem
Spouses
Harriet Park
(m. 1888; div. 1934)
(m. 1935)
AwardsHighest oratory honors of the University of Tennessee
Scientific career
FieldsSociology
InstitutionsUniversity of Tennessee, Oberlin College, University of Chicago
Doctoral advisor
Signature

William Isaac Thomas (August 13, 1863 – December 5, 1947) was an American sociologist, understood today as a key figure behind the theory of symbolic interactionism.[1]

Collaborating with Polish sociologist Florian Znaniecki, Thomas developed and influenced the use of empirical methodologies in sociological research and contributed theories to the sociology of migration.[2] Thomas went on to formulate a fundamental principle of sociology, known as the Thomas theorem (aka Thomas dictum), whereby he would contend that "if men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences."[3] This microsociological concept served as a theoretical foundation for the field of symbolic interactionism which was developed by Thomas's younger peers—primarily at the University of Chicago.[4]

  1. ^ "William Thomas, Sociologist, Dies. Former Member of University of Chicago Faculty Lectured Here and at Harvard". New York Times. December 7, 1947.
  2. ^ Ritzer, George (2011). Sociological Theory. McGraw-Hill. pp. 199–200.
  3. ^ Thomas, William I., and Dorothy S. Thomas. 1929. The Child in America (2nd ed.). Alfred A. Knopf. p. 572.
  4. ^ Lemert, Charles C. (2004). Social Theory: The Multicultural and Classic Readings. Westview Press. ISBN 978-0-8133-4217-7.