Arendt Contra Sociology: Theory, Society and Its Science

Hannah Arendt is today widely regarded today as a political theorist, who sought to rescue politics from society, and political theory from the social sciences. But this view has had the effect of distracting attention from many of Arendt's most important insights concerning the constitution of society, and the significance of its 'science', sociology. Arendt Contra Sociology re-assesses the relationship between Arendt's work and the theoretical foundations of sociology, bringing her insights to bear on some key themes within contemporary theoretical sociology. Re-reading Arendt's distinctions between labour, fabrication and action as a theory of the fundamental ontology of human societies, this book assesses her criticism of the tendency of many sociological paradigms to conflate the activity of fabrication with that of action. It re-examines Arendt's understanding of central areas of research within contemporary theoretical sociology - including the meaning of power, the trajectory of modern science, the rise of consumerism and the problem of reflexivity. This volume offers a comprehensive reconstruction of Arendt's thought, uncovering its refutation of, or latent contribution to, key sociological approaches. It will be of interest to sociologists, social and political theorists and philosophers of social science. Previously considered two different strands within continental thought, this book compares and contrasts Hegel's 'phenomenology' and Foucault's 'genealogy', contending that in spite of their differences, these approaches share important commonalities. Considering the possibility of developing a dialectical approach of 'phenomenology' and 'genealogy', this volume develops our understanding of critical theory, whilst engaging in debates concerning truth and knowledge in the philosophy of the social sciences. Cover 1 Contents 8 Acknowledgements 10 Abbreviations 12 1 Introduction 14 Part I Society and its Science 26 2 Society 28 3 Sociology 54 Part II Re-thinking Sociological Theory 78 4 Reflexivity 80 5 Power 98 6 Knowledge 120 7 Consumption 140 8 Conclusion: The Good Society and the Future of Sociology 156 Bibliography 158 Index 168