The social Theory of Georg Simmel

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Monograph

Identifikator:: 1024612627

URN:: urn:nbn:de:zbw-retromon-166627

Document type:: Monograph

Author:: Spykman, Nicholas J. http://d-nb.info/gnd/124229867

Title:: The social Theory of Georg Simmel

Place of publication:: Chicago

Publisher:: Univ. of Chicago Press.

Year of publication:: 1925

Scope:: XXIX, 297 S

Digitisation:: 2022

Collection:: Economics Books

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ar- Ha 1al onN- ve ng ec- ase aal ion sult be- in unt the Less ‘m- ely sni- {ual the Che ism ‘pa- -ain the 2 In und es a Wl is Jer- ‘ood ind OPPOSITION 121 struggle. From a correlation such as this spring the bitter quarrels that are being fought within political factions or trade unions or families. Competition A special type of correlation between unity and opposi- tion occurs in the different forms of competition. Com- petition is distinguished from an ordinary struggle by the fact that it is an indirect conflict. In one form of competi- tion, the object of the conflict is in the hands of a third per- son, and the mere victory over the opponent, although the first necessary step, is not the final aim. In the second form of competition, each competitor works immediately for the final aim without spending any energy on his opponent. This type of competition is illustrated in a track meet and in modern business. The runner who succeeds by his speed, the merchant by the price of his goods, and the preacher by his oratory may be stimulated by the efforts of their competitors, but they proceed as if otherwise these competitors were non-existent and their own aim and purpose the only thing in this world. This complete concentration on the factual aspect of the issue leaves only an antagonism of a formal nature. The result is that competition can be used as a form of conflict which will be of benefit to both parties. Competition is often stimulated artificially, as between the regiments of an army or between subgroups of co-workers for a common cause. It will not only lead to an increased activity on the part of each competing group which will be for the benefit of the whole, but even the victory of the winner will indi- rectly benefit the losers. This peculiar character of competition, the neglect of the opponent and the concentration on the objective re- Soz., pp. 271-77.

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