1st Edition
From Society to System The Social Theory of Michel Freitag
From Society to System presents sociologist Michel Freitag’s (1935-2009) distinctive, multifaceted and interdisciplinary work. Elaborated within the grand sociological tradition, his dialectical sociology redefines sociality as the realm of the symbolic to pinpoint its ontological frailty. Such a perspective expands the borders within sociology to rejoin classical philosophical preoccupations, revisiting social ontology as a radical critique of contemporary society where not only life and planet earth is at stake as a result of capitalism but reflexivity as well.
This collection of essays touches on topics that have been of central concern for social theory since the end of the 20th century: the discussion about holism versus individualism and the dissolution of transcendental identity; the current state of the social sciences, both epistemologically and practically; the end-of-20th century debate over the nature of society along with its future in the context of globalisation.
These essays show how Freitag’s sociology is part of a larger unified framework that integrates ontology, epistemology, anthropology and philosophy into a coherent vision of the world – testifying to the distinctiveness of Freitag’s social theory, standing next to other great social theorists such as Margaret Archer, Jürgen Habermas, Murray Bookchin and Ulrich Beck.
Presentation: Situating Freitag’s Work In Contemporary Social Theory
Daniel Dagenais
Chapter 1. The Sinking of the University
Chapter 2. For a Critical Theory of Postmodernity
Chapter 3. Overcoming the Opposition between "Holism" and "Individualism" in Sociology
Chapter 4. The Postmodern Dissolution of Transcendental identity: Dialectics of the Relation between Individual Identity and Forms of Social Participation
Biography
Michel Freitag (1935–2009) was born in Switzerland and taught sociology at the Université du Québec à Montréal. He is the author of an original theoretical sum (Dialectique et société, three volumes) and of several books, among which are: Le naufrage de l’université (Governor General Award-Canada in 1996); L’oubli de la société; L’impasse de la globalisation and L’abîme de la liberté. His posthumous work is now being published under the overall title of Les formes de la société. His work and teaching led to the creation of an original school of thought, now referred to as L’École de Montréal.
"Michel Freitag is a giant of social theory. This translation in English offers a preview of the depth, reach and critical importance of his theory of the 'modes of reproduction of society', from the dawn till the dusk of human civilisation. Let's hope it may set the scene for a translation of his Dialectique et société (3 vols)."
Frédéric Vandenberghe, Professor, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
"This introduction to Michel Freitag reproaches the mono-lingualism of social theorists in the UK and USA, where absurd 'new approaches' abound in English. Critical Realists lack interlocutors of Freitag’s stature who share their central concern with the interplay between structure, culture and agency, conceptualising each element differently but worthy of debate between fellow anti-empiricists."
Margaret S. Archer, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, University of Warwick
"Michel Freitag remains largely unknown in the English-speaking world, though his work provides an original theoretical synthesis of exceptional breadth and depth. Offering an uncompromising critique of contemporary society, it speaks to the singular character of social existence and its historical transformations. An invaluable introduction to the work of this essential if neglected author."
Brian C. J. Singer, Full Professor, York University
