Karl Mannheim and the Legacy of Max Weber: Retrieving a Research Programme (Rethinking Classical Sociology)

This book focuses on the important work of Karl Mannheim by demonstrating how his theoretical conception of a reflexive sociology took shape as a collaborative empirical research program. The authors show how contemporary work along these lines, whether derived from Foucault, Bourdieu or other theorists, can benefit from the insights of Mannheim and his students into both morphology and genealogy.Inspired by recent receptions of Karl Mannheim that do not restrict themselves to familiar arguments about the sociology of knowledge, the book contains three themes. First it offers a new reading of Mannheim's 'empirical' project, with emphasis on his lifelong dialogue with Max Weber. Special attention is paid to his article on 'economic ambition.' Second, the book analyzes the work arising out of Mannheim's Frankfurt research group, notably the early writings of Norbert Elias, Hans Speier, and Hans Gerth, as well as dissertations by Mannheim's students, including studies of newspapers, women's household roles, sentimentalism in women's literature, relations between female social workers and male bureaucrats, exile, Jewish assimilation, and Liberal 'cultivation.' Finally, the book contributes to the microsociology of knowledge, uncovering the modalities that made for an open working group in Frankfurt that was expressly not a school.The book returns Mannheim's sociology of knowledge inquiries into the broader context of a wider project in historical and cultural sociology, whose promising development was disrupted and then partially obscured by the expulsion of Mannheim's intellectual generation. It is about Karl Mannheim as he served his most productive - and independent - students and not as he has been stereotyped in the literature. As such, it will appeal to sociologists concerned with the contemporary relevance of his work, and who are prepared for a fresh look at Weimar sociology and the legacy of Max Weber. This book focuses on the important work of Karl Mannheim by demonstrating how his theoretical conception of a reflexive sociology took shape as a collaborative empirical research program. The authors show how contemporary work along these lines, whether derived from Foucault, Bourdieu or other theorists, can benefit from the insights of Mannheim and his students into both morphology and genealogy. Inspired by recent receptions of Karl Mannheim that do not restrict themselves to familiar arguments about the sociology of knowledge, the book contains three themes. First it offers a new reading of Mannheim's 'empirical' project, with emphasis on his lifelong dialogue with Max Weber. Special attention is paid to his article on 'economic ambition.' Second, the book analyzes the work arising out of Mannheim's Frankfurt research group, notably the early writings of Norbert Elias, Hans Speier, and Hans Gerth, as well as dissertations by Mannheim's students, including studies of newspapers, women's household roles, sentimentalism in women's literature, relations between female social workers and male bureaucrats, exile, Jewish assimilation, and Liberal 'cultivation.' Finally, the book contributes to the microsociology of knowledge, uncovering the modalities that made for an open working group in Frankfurt that was expressly not a school. The book returns Mannheim's sociology of knowledge inquiries into the broader context of a wider project in historical and cultural sociology, whose promising development was disrupted and then partially obscured by the expulsion of Mannheim's intellectual generation. It is about Karl Mannheim as he served his most productive - and independent - students and not as he has been stereotyped in the literature. As such, it will appeal to sociologists concerned with the contemporary relevance of his work, and who are prepared for a fresh look at Weimar sociology and the legacy of Max Weber Contents......Page 6 Series Editor’s Preface......Page 8 Preface......Page 12 List of Abbreviations......Page 14 About the Authors......Page 16 Introduction......Page 18 1 The Challenging Context......Page 26 2 Time and Place......Page 40 3 The Social Structure of Advancement: Education for Life in the Economy......Page 50 4 The “Intensive Study Group” Around Karl Mannheim......Page 74 5 Norbert Elias and the Sociology of External Forms......Page 92 6 Hans Gerth and Hans Weil: The Genealogy of the Liberal Bildungselite......Page 102 7 Käthe Truhel and the Idea of a Social Bureaucracy......Page 118 8 Natalie Halperin and Margarete Freudenthal: The Genealogy of Women’s Movements......Page 134 9 Jacob Katz: Sociology of the Stranger I......Page 148 10 Nina Rubinstein: Sociology of the Stranger II......Page 158 11 Individual Projects and Orphans......Page 170 12 The Unfinished Business Between Karl Mannheim and Max Weber......Page 204 Bibliography......Page 214 E......Page 224 J......Page 225 M......Page 226 R......Page 227 W......Page 228 Y......Page 229 Contents 6 Series Editor’s Preface 8 Preface 12 List of Abbreviations 14 About the Authors 16 Introduction 18 1 The Challenging Context 26 2 Time and Place 40 3 The Social Structure of Advancement: Education for Life in the Economy 50 4 The “Intensive Study Group” Around Karl Mannheim 74 5 Norbert Elias and the Sociology of External Forms 92 6 Hans Gerth and Hans Weil: The Genealogy of the Liberal Bildungselite 102 7 Käthe Truhel and the Idea of a Social Bureaucracy 118 8 Natalie Halperin and Margarete Freudenthal: The Genealogy of Women’s Movements 134 9 Jacob Katz: Sociology of the Stranger I 148 10 Nina Rubinstein: Sociology of the Stranger II 158 11 Individual Projects and Orphans 170 12 The Unfinished Business Between Karl Mannheim and Max Weber 204 Bibliography 214 Index 224 A 224 B 224 C 224 D 224 E 224 F 225 G 225 H 225 I 225 J 225 K 226 L 226 M 226 N 227 O 227 P 227 R 227 S 228 T 228 U 228 V 228 W 228 Y 229 This book focuses on the important work of Karl Mannheim by demonstrating how his theoretical conception of a reflexive sociology took shape as a collaborative empirical research programme. The authors show how contemporary work along these lines can benefit from the insights of Mannheim and his students into both morphology and genealogy. It returns Mannheim's sociology of knowledge inquiries into the broader context of a wider project in historical and cultural sociology, whose promising development was disrupted and then partially obscured by the expulsion of Mannheim's intellectual generation. This inspired volume will appeal to sociologists concerned with the contemporary relevance of his work, and who are prepared for a fresh look at Weimar sociology and the legacy of Max Weber. The Challenging Context -- Time And Place -- The Social Structure Of Advancement : Education For Life In The Economy -- The Intensive Study Group Around Karl Mannheim -- Norbert Elias And The Sociology Of External Forms -- Hans Gerth And Hans Weil : The Genealogy Of The Liberal Bildungselite -- Käthe Truhel And The Idea Of A Social Bureaucracy -- Natalie Halperin And Margarete Freudenthal : The Genealogy Of Women's Movements -- Jacob Katz : The Sociology Of The Stranger I -- Nina Rubinstein : Sociology Of The Stranger Ii -- Individual Projects And Orphans -- The Unfinished Business Between Karl Mannheim And Max Weber. David Kettler, Colin Loader, Volker Meja. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [197]-206) And Index. This book focuses on the important work of Karl Mannheim by demonstrating how his theoretical conception of a reflexive sociology took shape as a collaborative empirical research programme. The authors show how contemporary work along these lines, whether derived from Foucault, Bourdieu or other theorists, can benefit from the insights of Mannheim and his students into both morphology and genealogy Focuses on the work of Karl Mannheim by demonstrating how his theoretical conception of a reflexive sociology took shape as a collaborative empirical research program. This book shows how contemporary work along these lines can benefit from the insights of Mannheim and his students into both morphology and genealogy.