One of the main concerns of modern theory would be the impact of stratification within society. Social stratification is defined as the “hierarchical or vertical division of society based on rank, caste, or class” (Dictionary.com 2014). Social stratification can be operationally defined “as the systematically unequal distribution of power, wealth, and status (Bowles 2013; Kerbo 2000). Stratification predicts that all known societies, past and present, “distribute scarce and required goods and services unequally” (Grusky, Ku, and Szelenyi 2008; Tumin 1953). Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore (1945) establish a main stratification function; which can be explained by “the need faced by any society to place and motivate individuals in social structures” (242). In this way the basis of stratification derives from the fundamental works of the fathers of sociology, Marx, Weber and Durkheim. Marx, Weber, and Durkheim each establish a foundation as “almost all contemporary stratification theory and research in sociology traces back, in some way, to one of these three” (Bowles 2013). From this it can be seen how the views of Marx, Weber and Durkheim on stratification differ from each other. Every classical sociological theory on stratification refers to the unequal distribution of power, wealth and status in society in various forms. The work of these cardinal sociologists brings out contrasting theoretical perspectives towards the evolution of a fundamental theory towards the contemporary perspective of society. Davis and Moore see stratification as a functioning mechanism in society because it serves an important purpose. Society must deal with particular conditions at two levels in order to function...... middle of paper......rmations of modern social thought. 2nd ed. London: Sage Publication Ltd. Orlove, Raphael. 2013. “Teenage Drunk Driver Too Rich to Be Held Responsible for Killing Four People.” Retrieved March 20, 2014 (http://jalopnik.com/drunk-teen-kills-four-gets-no-prison-after-lawyer-blam-1484375504) Poloma, Margret M. 1979. Contemporary Sociological Theory. New York: Macmillan Publishing. 91-101. Sica, Alan. 2005. Social Thought: From the Enlightenment to the Present. Boston: Pearson Education Inc. Tumin, Melvin M. 1953. “Some Principles of Stratification: A Critical Analysis.” American Sociological Review 18:387-394. Turner, Johnathan H., Leonard Beeghley, and Charles H. Powers. 1998. The emergence of sociological theory. 4th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Company.Weber, Max. 1930/2006. The Protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism. New York: Routledge Classics.