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

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ry 1Cc- )e- ap- of ies ‘he tu- nd nt 1S In .nd ion gle in 'ta- rm ney nee lds, life “re- in- fe’s rms the ual ses, hey nee GENERAL INTRODUCTION The structures of independent reality outside of life’s processes were originally mere functions of life. At first life produced these forms and categories for the sake of life. Their task was to serve life. But, once they have obtained their self-sufficient status, it becomes the task of life to serve them for their sake. Life must then shape its contents according to their norms and fit them within their forms. Meaning and significance pertain at first only to the fitting and shaping of these forms to the demands of life. But later the fitting and shaping of life’s contents according to these norms obtains a meaning and signifi- cance of its own. These forms and categories help to build life even when they are still wholly submerged in life’s processes. But up to that point they are merely passive. They must submit to the demands of life and modify themselves accordingly. But, once objectified, they become really productive. Then their own factual forms become the true determinants. Life’s contents are then shaped according to their norms. Then the logical and methodological norms create in full autonomy the worlds of art, philoso- phy, and religion. The emphasis is then no longer on the contents of these worlds and their meaning for life, but on their forms and categories. They have become independ- ent systems possessing an objective structure of their own. Certain occurrences of the temporal and subjective life are the embryonic forms, the precursory formations of these worlds. Later, however, art, science, and religion obtain a superpsychological ideality and thus become non- temporal and objective. The formation of these independ- ent systems is a historical process. Out of a mere knowing for practical purposes there grow science and philosophy, out of mere vital-teleological elements there grow art and religion. At first the search for truth is for the sake of life.

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