Sociology has entered a post-disciplinary age: cultural boundaries are being transgressed and shifted; science is undergoing many previously only conceivable, and now necessary, transformations. Even if we live in an age of epistemological freedom and creativity, the social sciences run the risk of closing themselves off in an illusory disciplinary confor- mism, or to conceive of themselves as a mere assemblage of techniques. The response to this contemporary — though not new — situation may be twofold. On the one hand, sociologists may be tempted to think that the solution to this state of affairs lies in one word: “method”. On the other hand, another way forward is possible: accept the challenge that comes from the current “epistemological insecurity” of the postmodern age and try to re-think sociology as a form of knowledge. Each of the contribu- tions to this book will seek to focus on some specific aspects of the com- plex relation between sociology and aesthetics in four different authors: Georg Simmel (1858-1918), Walter Benjamin (1892-1940), Theodor W. Adorno (1903-1969) and Pierre Bourdieu (1930-2002).
Aesthetics and Social Theory. Simmel, Benjamin, Adorno, Bourdieu.
MELE, VINCENZO
2013-01-01
Abstract
Sociology has entered a post-disciplinary age: cultural boundaries are being transgressed and shifted; science is undergoing many previously only conceivable, and now necessary, transformations. Even if we live in an age of epistemological freedom and creativity, the social sciences run the risk of closing themselves off in an illusory disciplinary confor- mism, or to conceive of themselves as a mere assemblage of techniques. The response to this contemporary — though not new — situation may be twofold. On the one hand, sociologists may be tempted to think that the solution to this state of affairs lies in one word: “method”. On the other hand, another way forward is possible: accept the challenge that comes from the current “epistemological insecurity” of the postmodern age and try to re-think sociology as a form of knowledge. Each of the contribu- tions to this book will seek to focus on some specific aspects of the com- plex relation between sociology and aesthetics in four different authors: Georg Simmel (1858-1918), Walter Benjamin (1892-1940), Theodor W. Adorno (1903-1969) and Pierre Bourdieu (1930-2002).I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
