The social Theory of Georg Simmel

Bibliographic data

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

Usage license:: Get license information via the feedback formular.

yb { - "ag 3] g ' 1] ) -. Vv e 'Q 1} JS +4 1 | =- 1.S 0 le n 0 Nn 0} Ie vs e GENERAL INTRODUCTION 15 complex phenomena to one of them as their substance and law, on the basis of superficial and unequally emphasized similarities, a gradual differentiation leads to the recogni- tion of the primary forces which interact between their elements. That is the road from philosophy to exact sci- ence along a series of intermediate stations. The cosmic appearances are so manifold, complex, and interwoven that a first orientation cannot occur otherwise than by postulating an often observed fact as the center and source of the world and by tracing the other phenomena back to it. Although this maybepossible only with many strains and breakings, it will none the less provide a first guiding line. But metaphysics has made the mistake of considering this first unitary synthesis of the appearance of things as their last source. It has projected behind the actuality the distance which separates the actuality from the super- ficial appearance, and has considered the latter as the absolute source of the former, instead of a first approach toward it. The thought movement has tended to become rigid at the beginning of its journey, and this has placed great obstacles in the way of a further differentiation and a better knowledge of the actuality. But it has none the less produced a unification of and a mastery over the mani- foldness of appearances which is not without value just because it is merely the beginning and not the end. The right to a philosophic treatment remains therefore unchal- lenged until the problems are finally solved within the field of exact science. And this historical development of our knowledge of the totality of the world is similar to the development of our knowledge of special fields. The meta- physics of the cosmos continues in a metaphysics of part of the cosmos. But there also it has a value only as a first anticipation, and must be followed by an exact inquiry.! 1 Ibid., pp. 93-04.

Access restriction

Copyright

fullscreen: The social Theory of Georg Simmel

Monograph

Table of contents

Download

Monograph

This page

Image fragment

Citation links

Citation recommendation