A Sociological Theory of Value: Georg Simmel's Sociological Relationism (Sociology)

In this book, Natàlia Cantó Milà elaborates on Georg Simmel's relational approach to a theory of value, pointing at the heuristic possibilities that this approach offers to modern sociology and to a sociology of modernity. She does so by focusing on the theory of value Simmel developed in his The Philosophy of Money , delivering an alternative reading of this book that views its theory of value as its main axial point. Simmel's theory of value is depicted by Canto Mila as including an intrinsically sociological aspect, since economic as well as moral, ethic and aesthetic values are conceived as resulting from human relations. Part I Georg Simmel As A Social Scientist 21 -- Introduction To Part I: Georg Simmel As A Social Scientist 23 -- 1 Georg Simmel: His Life And Work 27 -- Introduction. A Biographical Sketch 27 -- Georg Simmel And The Social Sciences 28 -- The Object Of Sociology 37 -- The Concept Of Sociation 39 -- Wechselwirkung. A Sketch For A Relational Sociology 40 -- The Concept Of The 'forms Of Sociation' 44 -- The Concept Of Form In Simmel's Philosophy Of Life 50 -- The Problem Areas Of Sociology 51 -- You And Me 52 -- A Look Back, A Look Ahead 53 -- 2 The Making Of Georg Simmel As A Social Scientist 55 -- On The Influences Of Volkerpsychologie 56 -- On The Influences Of Gustav Schmoller And The Younger Historical School Of National Economy 59 -- On The Influences Of Herbert Spencer, Charles Darwin And Social-darwinism 66 -- On The Influences Of Kant And The Dialogue With Neo-kantianism 69 -- On The Influences Of Karl Marx And Marxism 79 -- On The Philosophy Of Life And The Influences Of Henri Bergson 89 -- A Look Back, A Look Ahead 91 -- 3 The Philosophy Of Money: History, Intentions, Perspective, Methodology 95 -- From 'on The Psychology Of Money' To The Philosophy Of Money 97 -- 'on The Psychology Of Money' 100 -- The Lines Of Continuity And Divergence Between 'on The Psychology Of Money' And The Philosophy Of Money 104 -- On Simmel's Distancing Of Himself From The Influences Of Herbert Spencer And Social-darwinism Between 1889 And 1900 109 -- Georg Simmel's Dialogue With Heinrich Rickert During The Writing Of The Philosophy Of Money 113 -- The Purpose And Methodology Of The Philosophy Of Money 116 -- The Influence Of Simmel's Conception Of Philosophy On The Structure Of The Philosophy Of Money 118 -- Why Should We Take The Theory Of Value Be The Central Theme Of The Philosophy Of Money? 120 -- A Look Back 122 -- Digression: Simmel On The Marxian Theory Of Value 123 -- The Marxian Theories Of Value 124 -- Georg Simmel On The Marxian Labour Theory Of Value 131 -- Part Ii Georg Simmel's Theory Of Value 143 -- Introduction To Part Ii: Georg Simmel's Theory Of Value 145 -- 4 An Analytical Theory Of Value 151 -- On Being And Value 152 -- The Differentiation Of Subject And Object In The Processes Of Valuation 153 -- On The Relationality Of Values 156 -- On Exchange 158 -- On Relativity And Absoluteness 161 -- Why Not A Relational Approach? 163 -- Simmel's Theory Of Economic Value 164 -- On Sacrifice 165 -- On Equivalence 166 -- Which Goods Become Objects Of Economic Valuation? From Usefulness To Desirability, From Scarcity To Sacrifice 167 -- A Look Back, A Look Ahead 171 -- 5 An Analysis Of Money 173 -- Money As The Reification Of A Social Function 174 -- The Value Of Money 176 -- An Ahistorical Analysis Of The Emergence Of Money. From Substance To Function Money 179 -- Trust In Money 183 -- The Characteristics Of Money 184 -- The Double Role Of Money 187 -- The Levelling Effects Of Money And Their Consequences 188 -- Money As A Reducer Of Ambiguity 190 -- Money As A Means Of Exchange. Money As A Goal 191 -- The Types Of Personality That Derive From Considering Money As The Highest Value 193 -- The Social Meaning Of Money 198 -- A Look Back, A Look Ahead 200 -- 6 A Synthetic Theory Of Value. The Modern 'styles Of Life' 201 -- Money As An Object Of Everyday Life 202 -- On Having And Being 204 -- On Quantification And Calculability 208 -- On Means, Goals And Rationalization 209 -- The Characterlessness Of Money: Equality And Exclusion 211 -- On Individual Freedom 214 -- The Conflict Of Modern Culture And Modern Lifestyles 218 -- A Look Back 225 -- Epilogue: The Value Of Culture 227. Natalia Canto Mila. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 233-242). In this book, Natalia Canto Mila elaborates on Georg Simmel's relational approach to a theory of value, pointing at the heuristic possibilities that this approach offers to modern sociology and to a sociology of modernity. She does so by focusing on the theory of value Simmel developed in his [double right angle bracket]The Philosophy of Money[double left angle bracket], delivering an alternative reading of this book that views its theory of value as its main axial point. Simmel's theory of value is depicted by Canto Mila as including an intrinsically sociological aspect, since economic as well as moral, ethic and aesthetic values are conceived as resulting from human relations. "In this book, Natalia Canto Mila elaborates on Georg Simmel's relational approach to a theory of value, pointing at the heuristic possibilities that this approach offers to modern sociology and to a sociology of modernity. She does so by focusing on the theory of value Simmel developed in his "The Philosophy of Money," delivering an alternative reading of this book that views its theory of value as its main axial point. Simmel's theory of value is depicted by Canto Mila as including an intrinsically sociological aspect, since economic as well as moral, ethic and aesthetic values are conceived as resulting from human relations."--BOOK JACKET

In this book, Natàlia Cantó Milà elaborates on Georg Simmel's relational approach to a theory of value, pointing at the heuristic possibilities that this approach offers to modern sociology and to a sociology of modernity. She does so by focusing on the theory of value Simmel developed in his »The Philosophy of Money«, delivering an alternative reading of this book that views its theory of value as its main axial point. Simmel's theory of value is depicted by Cantó Milà as including an intrinsically sociological aspect, since economic as well as moral, ethic and aesthetic values are conceived as resulting from human relations.

Table of Contents Foreword • Otthein Rammstedt Introductory Remarks PART I: GEORG SIMMEL AS A SOCIAL SCIENTIST Introduction to Part I: Georg Simmel as a Social Scientist 1. Georg Simmel: His Life and Work 2. The Making of Georg Simmel as a Social Scientist 3. The Philosophy of Money: History, Intentions, Perspective, Methodology Digression: Simmel on the Marxian Theory of Value PART II: GEORG SIMMEL’S THEORY OF VALUE Introduction to Part II: Georg Simmel’s Theory of Value 4. An Analytical Theory of Value 5. An Analysis of Money 6. A Synthetic Theory of Value. The Modern ‘Styles of Life’ Epilogue: The Value of Culture Bibliography Besprochen in:Canadian Journal of Sociology, 11/12 (2006), William A. Little