What is Sociology?What is Sociology? presents in concise and provocative form the major ideas of a seminal thinker whose work--spanning more than four decades--is only now gaining the recognition here it has long had in Germany and France. Unlike other post-war sociologists, Norbert Elias has always held the concept of historical development among his central concerns; his dynamic theories of the evolution of modern man have remedied the historical and epistemological shortcomings of structualism and ethno-methodology. What is Sociology? refines the arguments that were first found in Elias' massive work on the civilizing process, in which he formulated his major assertions about the interdependence of the making of modern man and modern society. It is Elias' contention that changes in personality structure--embodied in phenomena ranging from table manners and hygiene habits to rites of punishment and courtly love--inevitably reflect and mould patterns of control generated by new political and social instututions. Elias' rejection of a dichotomy between individual and society, and his use of psychoanalysis, political theory, and social history, help restore a fullness of resource to sociology. |
Contents
Authors acknowledgements | 7 |
Introduction | 13 |
Sociology the questions asked by Comte | 33 |
The sociologist as a destroyer of myths | 50 |
Game models | 71 |
Universal features of human society | 104 |
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Common terms and phrases
actions aspects Auguste Comte balance of power become behaviour belief systems biological bonds centuries characteristic complex Comte Comte's concept conflicts course dependent developmental direction distribution of power division of labour economic Emile Durkheim example explained expression fact fantasy figuration forces functional nexus game models group of players heteronomous human bonds human relationships human societies ideas imagine impersonal increase individual player interdependence interweaving kind less level of integration Max Weber means ment moves nexuses Norbert Elias objects observable oligarchic oneself organization overall particular person phenomena philosophical theory physical positions possible power chances power differentials power potential prescientific Primal Contest pronouns question refer relation relative autonomy scientific scientific method separate single relationships social change social development social sciences sociological imagination sociological problems sociological theory sociologists sociology speech and thought state-societies static strata subject matter Talcott Parsons theoretical theory of science tion tradition types understand