Tönnies, Ferdinand (1855–1936)

Ferdinand Tönnies was a German sociologist and co-founder of the German Society for Sociology. Known widely for his theory of Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft, his sociological oeuvre not only comprised the elaboration of an innovative theoretical approach but also included many applied and empirical studies on a wide variety of social issues. Less influential among present-day social scientists than his contemporaries Weber and Simmel, Tönnies remains an often misunderstood but always respected founding father of sociology.