Hermeneutic Philosophy and the Sociology of Art : An Approach to Some of the Epistemological Problems of the Sociology of Knowledge and the Sociology of Art and Literature

"This book, first published in 1975, is an examination of the theoretical foundation of the sociology of art and literature and an in-depth study in the sociology of knowledge. In discussing and clarifying some of the important philosophical issues in this field, the constant underlying reference is to the creative and artistic-expressive areas of knowledge - so that the better understanding of the social nature and genesis of all knowledge may point the way towards a similar comprehension of art and society."--Provided by publisher Cover page 1 Halftitle page 2 Title page 4 Copyright page 5 Title page 6 Copyright page 7 Contents 8 Acknowledgments 10 Introduction 12 1 The sociology of art and the sociology of knowledge 14 2 The constitution of knowledge 22 i The phenomenology of knowledge and the social construction of the world 23 ii Language and knowledge of the world 30 iii Knowledge and interest—ideology 43 3 The problems of the sociology of knowledge 49 i Relativity and the problem of objective knowledge 50 ii Knowledge and reality 54 iii Cross-cultural understanding 56 iv The levels and varieties of knowledge 57 ν Structure and the individual 60 vi The concept of a world-view 62 vii Epistemology and ontology 62 4 The sociology of art and the concept of a world-view 64 i The concept of a world-view 67 ii Metalinguistics and the concept of world-view 72 5 Concepts of collective consciousness 76 i Lévi-Strauss 77 ii Goldmann 90 6 Concepts of collective consciousness (continued) 100 iii Durkheim 100 iv Parsons 104 7 Hermeneutic philosophy and the sociology of knowledge 113 8 Conclusion: towards a hermeneutic sociology of art 140 Bibliography 150 Index 158 This reissue (1990) addresses the cultural phenomenon that is postmodernism. The first part raises some general theoretical questions about postmodernism. The second section attends to the various arts and the philosophical understanding of them: specific readings of architecture, painting, literature, theatre, photography, film, television, dance and fashion. This reissue (1975) is an examination of the theoretical foundation of the sociology of art and literature and an in-depth study in the sociology of knowledge. In discussing and clarifying some of the important philosophical issues in this field, the constant underlying reference is to the creative and artistic-expressive areas of knowledge. "This 11-volume set reissues a host of classic titles on Continental Philosophy. Written by leading scholars in the field, they form an essential reference resource that tackles philosophers and subjects such as Deleuze, Derrida, hermeneutics and phenomenology."--Provided by publisher Originally presented as the author's thesis, University of Birmingham, 1972. Bibliography: p. 139-146. Includes index