Georg Simmel

Paper Summary:

The paper attempts to determine whether Georg Simmel's micro-sociological analysis is the most appropriate explanation of social phenomena. The paper asserts that although theorists like Emile Durkheim and Max Weber criticize much of Simmel's work, the theories put forward by Simmel are more relevant to contemporary views of society and reality than many of the earlier modernist theories in sociology. The paper suggests that his work be reassessed in light of its possible contribution to contemporary research and sociological speculation.

From the Paper:

"It can be argued that in many ways Georg Simmel's work prefigures a more postmodern approach to the understanding of society and social action. More specifically, Simmel's work is founded in the analysis of the meaning of social interaction in groups. This search for "meaning' is more speculative and philosophical and less formally scientific and objective in comparison to theorists such as Durkheim and Weber.
"In attempting to answer the central question of this paper -- whether Simmel's "micro-sociological analysis" is the best and most appropriate explanation of social phenomena -- the point of view will be asserted is that the theories or analyses put forward by Simmel are more in tune with and relevant to contemporary views of society and reality than many of the earlier modernist theories in Sociology. This also leads to the suggestion that his work is in need of reassessment in the light of its possible contribution to contemporary research and sociological speculation."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Durkheim E. " Sociology and its Scientific Field, in K.H. Wolff( editor), Essays on Sociology and Philosophy by Emile Durkheim et al., New York: Harper and Row ( 1964). pp. 354 -75.

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