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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208 THE SOCIAL THEORY OF GEORG SIMMEL In the economic world, money fulfils the sociological function of correlating the maximum extension of the circle with the maximum differentiation of the individual, not only with regard to the factual division of labor, but also with regard to his formal freedom and autonomy. It changes the small, homogeneous, self-contained circle of the natural economy into a group which manifests both extension and differentiation. In political developments, the same constellation is found in a great many different forms. It occurred in the field of agrarian policy when, after the abolishment of col- lective ownership, the commons became partly public domain, partly private property. It occurred in the field of internal politics when, after the abolishment of the semi- public corporation, its functions were taken over partly by the state, partly by private associations. Further illustrations of the correlation may be cited from the domain of law. The absolutism of the Roman state had a correlate in a certain absolutism of the individ- ual. There was a jus privatum next to the jus publicum. There were norms for the all-inclusive totality, but also for the individuals whom it included. There existed a law for the larger community on the one hand and for the in- dividual on the other hand, but not for the intermediate group. The old Roman law did not recognize the corpora- tion as a subject of special law. In medieval Europe, on the other hand, there was no distinction between private and public law. But the communities of that period were not large inclusive unities like the Roman Empire, but small social circles which arose out of the needs and inter- ests of individuals. There was no necessity for a separation of public and private law, because the individual was more intimately bound up in the community and expressed his individuality in his community life.

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