French Social Theory

Front Cover
SAGE Publications, Mar 6, 2003 - Social Science - 208 pages
No national tradition of social theory has been more seductive to Anglo-American readers than the French.There has been a long-standing fascination with French ideas and debates.

This extraordinarily accomplished book, written by one of Britain's leading commentators on social theory, provides a peerless account of the French tradition.The book: provides a systematic account of French social theory from the aftermath of the French Revolution (St Simon, Bazard and Comte) to the contemporary scene dominated by Kristeva, Deleuze, Bourdieu and Baudrillard; divides French social theory into three logically coherent cycles: 1800-80 (positivist); 1880-1940 (anthropological); 1940-2000 (Marxist); provides a detailed guide to the three phases of postwar French social theory - existential, structural and post-structural; and situates the discussions of individuals and schools in the relevant social and political contexts.

The book is a masterpiece of erudition and scholarship but is written throughout in an engaging and informative style. It will be required reading for anyone interested in social theory and sociology.

From inside the book

 

Contents

Sacrificial Theory and the Sociology of Modernity
10
Religion and the Subjective 26
26
The Second Cycle 18801939
45
Copyright

8 other sections not shown

Other editions - View all

French Social Theory
Mike Gane
Limited preview - 2003
French Social Theory
Mike Gane
Limited preview - 2003
French Social Theory
Mike Gane
Limited preview - 2003

Common terms and phrases

Algeria Althusser Althusser's Althusserian anomie attempt Auguste Comte Barthes Bataille Baudrillard Beauvoir become Berthelot biology Bourdieu bourgeois bourgeoisie Broussais Canguilhem Comte Comte's Comtean concept crisis critique crucial cultural cycle define Deleuze Derrida discussion division of labour dominant Durkheim Durkheimian Emile Durkheim epistemological essential existential forms Foucault France fundamental Georges Bataille human idea ideology individual intellectual Kristeva Littré logic London Lyotard Marcel Mauss Marx Marxism Mauss metaphysical method methodological mode modern moral movement normal norms object organic organisation Paris pathology phenomena philosophy political positive polity positivism postmodern problem produced proletariat Protestantism radical relation religion religious revolution revolutionary Routledge Rules sacred Saint-Simon Saint-Simonian Sartre scientific Second Sex Serres social facts social science social theory socialist society sociologist sociology specific structural Marxism structure struggle suggests suicide symbolic theoretical thesis tion tradition transition University Press Virilio writings

References to this book

About the author (2003)

Mike Gane is Professor of Sociology at University of Loughborough

Bibliographic information

TitleFrench Social Theory
Published in association with Theory, Culture & Society
AuthorMike Gane
PublisherSAGE Publications, 2003
ISBN076196830X, 9780761968306
Length208 pages
Subjects ›  › 

Social Science / Sociology / General
  
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