Published in 1945, "Some Principles of
Stratification" by Kingsley Davis and Wilbert E. Moore laid the foundation for contemporary
functionalist sociologicaltheory. The article argues that social
stratification performs necessary functions in society. Among these functions, Davis and Moore state that stratification ensures that the most qualified workers get the highest-paying jobs. High-income jobs are incentives for workers to go through the training and studynecessary to obtain said jobs. Societies, Davis and Moore argue, do not need to reward jobs of high functional importance (i. e. construction workers or mechanics) with high wages, they only need to pay enough so that workers will perform their jobs competently.
Functionalist theory states that society is composed of numerous parts, each of which perform a specific
function in society. For example, doctors treat the infirm. Prisons house criminals. Prostitution enables unskilled laborers to make a living for themselves. Along these lines, Davis and Moore discuss the function of the stratification system in "Some Principles of Stratification."