Between Literature and Science: The Rise of Sociology (Ideas in Context, Series Number 10)

The theme of this book is the conflict that arose in the early nineteenth century between the literary and scientific intellectuals of Europe, as they competed for recognition as the chief analysts of the new industrial society in which they lived. Sociology was conceived as the third major discipline, a hybrid of the scientific and literary traditions. The author chronicles the rise of the new discipline by discussing the lives and works of the most prominent thinkers of the time, in England, France, and Germany. The book presents a penetrating study of idealists grappling with reality when industrial society was in its infancy. Published with the support of the Exxon Education Foundation. "The theme of this book is the conflict which arose in the early nineteenth century between, on the one hand, the literary and, on the other hand, the scientific intellectuals of Europe, as they competed for recognition as the chief analysts of the new industrial society in which they lived. This conflicts was epitomised by the confrontation between Matthew Arnold and T. H. Huxley, and later in that between F. R. Leavis and C. P. Snow. Sociology was born as the third major discipline, though in many ways it was a hybrid of the literary and the scientific traditions. The social sciences continue, even today, to oscillate between these two traditions. The author chronicles the rise of the new discipline by discussing the lives and work of the most prominent thinkers of the time, in England, France and Germany. These include John Stuart Mill, H. G. Wells, Beatrice and Sidney Webb and T. S. Eliot; Auguste Comte, Charles Peguy, Emile Durkheim; Stefan George, Thomas Mann, Max Weber and Karl Mannheim. At stake was the right to formulate a philosophy of life for contemporary society, and to predict and pre-empt the worst consequences of industrialization. The book presents a penetrating study of idealists grappling with reality, when industrial society was still in its infancy. It will be of interest to those studying sociology and its history as a discipline, but it is equally relevant to other social science subjects which may be said to have arisen at about the same time" -- Back cover Introduction -- I. France -- The Transformations Of Auguste Comte: Science And Literature In Early Positivism -- Agathon And Others: Literature And Sociology In France At The Turn Of The Century -- Ii. England -- Facts And Culture Of The Feelings Of John Stuart Mill -- The Unwritten Novel: Beatrice Webb -- The Utopian Novel As A Substitute For Sociology: H.g. Wells -- Concealed Sociology: English Literary Criticism In The Nineteenth And Twentieth Centuries -- Iii. Germany -- Prologue: Artisan And Poet Too: W.h. Riehl -- Hostility To Science And Faith In Poetry As A German Ideal -- A German Specialty: Poetry And Literature In Opposition -- Disciplines In Competition: Sociology And History -- Remoteness From Society And Hostility Towards Sociology In Stefan George's Circle -- Stefan George, Georg Simmel, Max Weber -- Weberian Motifs In The Work Of Thomas Mann -- The German Spirit In Peril: E.r. Curtius, Karl Mannheim, And T.s. Eliot -- Epilogue: Sociology In National Socialist Germany And Afterwards. Wolf Lepenies ; Translated By R.j. Hollingdale. Translation Of: Die Drei Kulturen. Includes Index Bibliography: P. 350-373. A conflict arose in the early nineteenth century between the literary and scientific intellectuals of Europe, as they competed for recognition as the chief analysts of the new industrial society in which they lived. Sociology was conceived as the third major discipline, a hybrid of the scientific and literary traditions. The author chronicles the rise of the new discipline by discussing the lives and works of the most prominent thinkers of the time, in England, France, and Germany. The book presents a penetrating study of idealists grappling with reality when industrial society was in its infancy.