Post-Philosophical Sociology
Eliasian Perspectives on the Sociology of Knowledge

Book Description

This book brings together recent writings that clarify, develop, extend and utilise the author’s ‘post-philosophical’ sociological perspective, offering examinations of attempts by leading sociologists to diagnose and address the malaise of contemporary society arising from globalisation.

Advancing the position that Norbert Elias’s theoretical-empirical synthesis took the achievements and promise of the ‘sociological revolution’ of modern times further than any other sociologist to date has done, it presents and defends the ‘post-philosophical’ perspective, while offering a critique of the opposing critical theory paradigm. It thus supplements standard histories of sociology with new insights and challenges the orthodox limitation of the empirical scope of sociology to the recent period designated as ‘modernity’.

With attention to the destructive prevalence of ‘overcritique’ and the lack of an in-depth sociological psychology in much contemporary sociology, Post-Philosophical Sociology will appeal to scholars of sociology, social philosophy, social theory, cultural theory and psychoanalytical studies.