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The social, cosmopolitanism and beyond.
1Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Germany
History of the Human Sciences
|December 17, 2009
Summary
This study re-examines the concept of "the social" in sociology, arguing for an inclusive approach. It critiques modernist sociology
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Social Theory
- Metaphysics of the Social
Background:
- Examines the metaphysical underpinnings of "the social" in classical and contemporary cosmopolitan sociology.
- Highlights the modernist epistemology, methodology, and disciplinary rigor that separates the cultural from the natural.
- Analyzes how classical sociology's cosmopolitanism relies on exclusive differences.
Observation:
- Classical sociology, in its pursuit of cosmopolitanism, excludes "non-social and non-human objects" conceptually and methodologically.
- Contemporary cosmopolitan sociology utilizes "the social" as a universal explanatory device for the non-social and non-human.
- This modernist approach creates a separation between the social sciences and natural objects of concern.
Findings:
- Critiques the exclusionary practices within traditional and cosmopolitan sociological frameworks.
- Proposes an alternative to modernist social and cultural "other-logics" through the work of Gabriel Tarde.
- Advocates for an inclusive conception of "the social" that incorporates non-social and non-human elements.
Implications:
- Suggests a paradigm shift towards a more inclusive and comprehensive understanding of "the social" in sociological inquiry.
- Calls for granting a "cosmopolitan voice" to the non-social and non-human within social sciences.
- Encourages a move beyond modernist dualisms in sociological theory and practice.
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