2: Parsons, Economics, and Sociology

Parsons’s published works of the late 1920s and early 1930s were concerned with exploring the relationship between economics and sociology that was central to his doctoral studies in Heidelberg. He had written a near-final draft of his dissertation in 1926 and early 1927 in readiness for an oral examination in July of that year. To complete his dissertation, Parsons wrote two further chapters: one on recent German economics and one on Marx. He posted the handwritten chapters to his supervisor, Edgar Salin, for his approval and awaited their return in order to finalise the thesis. It appears, however, that Salin or his assistant mislaid them or that they were lost in the post between Heidelberg and Cambridge. Because of the short time available for rewriting the chapters, Parsons was given permission for examination only on the surviving chapters, on the grounds that Salin had previously approved the ones that were lost. Parsons hastily produced a brief replacement chapter on recent views on capitalism and an introductory note to the dissertation, which was duly passed at the oral examination.