SOCIOLOGIST

W. I. Thomas

1863 - 1947

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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. 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. Thomas went on to formulate a fundamental principle of sociology, known as the Thomas theorem, whereby he would contend that "if men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences." 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. Read more on Wikipedia

His biography is available in different languages on Wikipedia. W. I. Thomas is the 36th most popular sociologist (down from 34th in 2019), the 2,596th most popular biography from United States (down from 2,183rd in 2019) and the 10th most popular American Sociologist.

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Among SOCIOLOGISTS

Among sociologists, W. I. Thomas ranks 36 out of 79Before him are Stuart Hall, Juan José Linz, Harold Garfinkel, Ludwig Gumplowicz, Georges Gurvitch, and Robert E. Park. After him are Andre Gunder Frank, Herbert Blumer, Howard S. Becker, Charles Tilly, Amitai Etzioni, and Shmuel Eisenstadt.

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Contemporaries

Among people born in 1863, W. I. Thomas ranks 55Before him are Mary Jane Kelly, S. Ansky, Manuel Gomes da Costa, Gabriel Pierné, Ernst Gunther, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein, and Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia. After him are Alexander Siloti, Arthur Machen, Paul Drude, Princess Mathilde of Saxony, Hugo Haase, and Paul Héroult. Among people deceased in 1947, W. I. Thomas ranks 74Before him are Władysław Raczkiewicz, Ludwig Fischer, Friedrich Paschen, Huda Sha'arawi, Lucjan Żeligowski, and Archduchess Louise of Austria. After him are Karol Świerczewski, Charles Bally, Lilly Reich, Helmuth von Pannwitz, Nicholas Murray Butler, and Heinrich Schwarz.

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In United States

Among people born in United States, W. I. Thomas ranks 2,596 out of 20,380Before him are Stockton Rush (1962), Samuel Adams (1722), J. Carrol Naish (1896), Kate Capshaw (1953), Mike Pompeo (1963), and Megan Fox (1986). After him are Rita Wilson (1956), Kim Peek (1951), Lady Randolph Churchill (1854), Beverly D'Angelo (1951), Robert M. Parker Jr. (1947), and Archie Moore (1916).

Among SOCIOLOGISTS In United States

Among sociologists born in United States, W. I. Thomas ranks 10Before him are Seymour Martin Lipset (1922), C. Wright Mills (1916), Robert N. Bellah (1927), Daniel Bell (1919), Harold Garfinkel (1917), and Robert E. Park (1864). After him are Herbert Blumer (1900), Howard S. Becker (1928), Charles Tilly (1929), Edwin Sutherland (1883), Mark Granovetter (1943), and David Riesman (1909).