Georg Simmel on Individuality and Social Forms (Heritage of Sociology Series)

"Of those who created the intellectual capital used to launch the enterprise of professional sociology, Georg Simmel was perhaps the most original and fecund. In search of a subject matter for sociology that would distinguish it from all other social sciences and humanistic disciplines, he charted a new field for discovery and proceeded to explore a world of novel topics in works that have guided and anticipated the thinking of generations of sociologists. Such distinctive concepts of contemporary sociology as social distance, marginality, urbanism as a way of life, role-playing, social behavior as exchange, conflict as an integrating process, dyadic encounter, circular interaction, reference groups as perspectives, and sociological ambivalence embody ideas which Simmel adumbrated more than six decades ago."—Donald N. LevineHalf of the material included in this edition of Simmel's writings represents new translations. This includes Simmel's important, lengthy, and previously untranslated "Group Expansion and Development of Individuality," as well as three selections from his most neglected work, __Philosophy of Money__; in addition, the introduction to __Probleme der Geschichtsphilosophie__, chapter one of the __Lebensanschauung__, and three essays are translated for the first time.

"Of those who created the intellectual capital used to launch the enterprise of professional sociology, Georg Simmel was perhaps the most original and fecund. In search of a subject matter for sociology that would distinguish it from all other social sciences and humanistic disciplines, he charted a new field for discovery and proceeded to explore a world of novel topics in works that have guided and anticipated the thinking of generations of sociologists. Such distinctive concepts of contemporary sociology as social distance, marginality, urbanism as a way of life, role-playing, social behavior as exchange, conflict as an integrating process, dyadic encounter, circular interaction, reference groups as perspectives, and sociological ambivalence embody ideas which Simmel adumbrated more than six decades ago."—Donald N. Levine

Half of the material included in this edition of Simmel's writings represents new translations. This includes Simmel's important, lengthy, and previously untranslated "Group Expansion and Development of Individuality," as well as three selections from his most neglected work, Philosophy of Money; in addition, the introduction to Probleme der Geschichtsphilosophie, chapter one of the Lebensanschauung, and three essays are translated for the first time.

Contents 6 Acknowledgments 8 Introduction - by Donald N. Levine 10 I. Philosophy of the Social Sciences 68 1. How Is History Possible? 70 2. How Is Society Possible? 73 3. The Problem of Sociology 90 4. The Categories of Human Experience 103 II. Forms of Social Interaction 108 5. Exchange 110 6. Conflict 137 7. Domination 163 8. Prostitution 188 9. Sociability 194 III. Social Types 208 10. The Stranger 210 11. The Poor 217 12. The Miser and the Spendthrift 246 13. The Adventurer 254 14. The Nobility 266 IV. Forms of Individuality 282 15. Freedom and the Individual 284 16. Subjective Culture 294 17. Eros, Platonic and Modern 302 V. Individuality and Social Structure 316 18. Group Expansion and the Development of Individuality 318 19. Fashion 361 20. The Metropolis and Mental Life 391 21. Subordination and Personal Fulfillment 407 VI. Forms Versus Life Process: The Dialectics of Change 416 22. Social Forms and Inner Needs 418 23. The Transcendent Character of Life 420 24. The Conflict in Modern Culture 442 Bibliographical Note 462 Half of the material included in this edition of Simmel's writings represents new translations. This includes Simmel's important, lengthy, and previously untranslated "Group Expansion and the Development of Individuality," as well as three selections from his most neglected work, "Philosophy of Money"; in addition, the introduction to "Probleme der Geschichtsphilosophie", chapter one of the "Lebensanschauung", and three essays are translated for the first time