Distributed for University College Dublin Press
Essays III: On Sociology and the Humanities
Almost half of the 28 essays in this volume have not been published in English before, and many of the others were little known. Some directly express Elias’ dissatisfaction with the ahistorical, present-centred trend of modern sociology. Others scintillatingly show how wide ranging were Elias’ own sociological interests. Topics include, among many others: the work of Theodor W. Adorno; sociology and psychiatry; psychosomatic illness; human emotions; communities in long-term perspective; the changing balance of power between the sexes; African art; football; and even pigeon racing.
Table of Contents
Norbert Elias, 1897-1990 Note on the text Figuration Social processes Towards a theory of social processes Social process models on multiple levels On the sociogenesis of sociology The break with traditionalism - report on the discussion Group charisma and group disgrace Address on Adorno - respect and critique Sociology in danger - the case for the reorientation of a discipline A diagnosis of present-day sociology The retreat of sociologists into the present The concept of everyday life The story of the shoelaces Social anxieties On human beings and their emotions - a process-sociological essay Sociology and psychiatry Civilisation and psychosomatics Foreword to The Sociology of Sport Football in the process of civilisation Pigeon racing African art Stages of African art, social and visual Some remarks on the problem of work Professions The changing balance of power between the sexes - a process-sociological study - the example of the ancient Roman state ’Where two come together in lawful matrimony...’ Foreword to Women Torn Two Ways Renate Rubinstein Appendices - I On the division of social functions II Max Weber, involvement, detachment and charismatic leadership. III Extended notes to ’Stages of African art - social and visual’ IV List of minor publications by Norbert Elias Textual variants Bibliography Index.