Affectivity and the Social Bond : Transcendence, Economy and Violence in French Social Theory

Affectivity and the Social Bond offers a fresh and original perspective on the relationship between affectivity and transcendence in nineteenth and twentieth century French social theory. Engaging in a conceptual analysis of the works of Comte, Durkheim, Bataille and Girard, this book exposes a major transformation brought about by the sociological gaze in understandings of affectivity and its relationship to both sociality and transcendence in nineteenth century social thought: the ambivalence between the transcendence of the social and the immanence of affective experience. Revealing the manner in which questions of violence and economy are intertwined in the sociological analysis of affectivity, Affectivity and the Social Bond reflects upon the problem of controlling affectivity, alongside the political implications and possible dangers of a sociological model which seeks the roots of the social bond first and foremost in the affective realm. A rigorous engagement with the classics of French social theory, their treatment of human affectivity and its relationship to social integration and regulation, this book will appeal not only to sociologists and social theorists, but also to those with interests in social and political philosophy and the history of ideas. Bringing together the author's major scholarly work on Weber over the last thirty years, Max Weber's Comparative-Historical Sociology Today addresses major themes in Weber's thought, whilst also examining the mode of analysis practised in his comparative-historical writings. By exploring Weber's concepts and procedures, the individual chapters seek to convey the rigor of his research strategies, demonstrating their uniqueness. In this light, this study proceeds to identify as incomplete and then reconstruct the analyses undertaken by Weber of the rise of Confucianism in China, the caste system in India, and monotheism in ancient Israel. The analysis then advances to the modern era, utilising Weber's research procedures to explain the origins of four independent phenomena: the singularity of the American political culture, the cultural foundations of modern citizenship, cultural pessimism (Kulturpessimismus) in nineteenth century Germany, and the 'location' of work in contemporary German society. A dialogue with a variety of recent major schools is pursued throughout this volume. Offering a rich examination of the major themes in Weber's sociology, alongside a reconstruction of his mode of analysis and application of his approach, this book will appeal to scholars around the world with interests in social theory, German and American societies, cultural sociology, political sociology, the sociology of knowledge, comparative-historical sociology, and the sociology of civilizations Max Weber's Types Of Rationality: Cornerstones For The Analysis Of Rationalization Processes In History -- Should The Dynamic Autonomy Of Ideas Matter To Sociologists?: Max Weber On The Origin Of Other-worldly Salvation Religions And The Constitution Of Groups In American Society Today -- The Past And Present Influence Of World Views: Max Weber On A Neglected Sociological Concept -- The Perceptual And Tight Interweaving Of Past And Present In Max Weber's Sociology -- Macro Comparisons: Precautions, Possibilities, Achievements, And Limitations -- The Theoretical Framework And Causal Methodology -- The Rise And Expansion Of Confucianism In China -- The Rise And Expansion Of The Caste System In India -- The Rise And Expansion Of Monotheism In Ancient Israel -- The Legacies Of Ascetic Protestantism And American Uniqueness: The Political Culture Of The United States -- The Cultural Foundations Of Modern Citizenship -- The Origin And Expansion Of Kulturpessimismus: The Relationship Between Public And Private Spheres In Early Twentieth-century Germany -- Culture And The Location Of Work In Contemporary Western Germany: A Weberian Configurational And Comparative Analysis. Stephen Kalberg. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [311]-330) And Index. Bringing together the author's major scholarly work on Weber over the last thirty years , offering a rich examination of the major themes in his sociology, alongside a reconstruction of his mode of analysis and application of his approach, this book will appeal to scholars around the world with interests in social theory, German and American societies, cultural sociology, political sociology, the sociology of knowledge, comparative-historical sociology, and the sociology of civilizations. Bringing together the author's major scholarly work on Max Weber, this title addresses major themes in Weber's thought, whilst also examining the mode of analysis practised in his comparative-historical writings. By exploring Weber's concepts and procedures, it conveys the rigor of his research strategies, demonstrating their uniqueness.