Georg Simmel set himself the goal of defining the origins and character of modern society, evaluating the meaning it takes on for individuals.His sociology is open to dialogue between disciplines and develops the individual and collective levels together. With this approach, he studied society as a dichotomous, contradictory, and syllogistic world without arriving at a conclusive synthesis.This aspect makes his perspective very current in a world that radicalizes traits of modernity (Giddens 1990) and for which an interpretative key may be in abandoning all attempts at synthesis. A central theme of Simmel's thinking is about the “forms” of modern society.Money is central to these forms, and the metropolis is their setting.These forms lead to a world of contradictions and help define the origins and traits of capitalism, as seen in Max Weber's producer cities (1921, 1924). Capitalism does not have a spirit, but it is a spirit that interacts with the animal spirits of Joseph Alois Schumpeter (1942), Émile Zola's Saccard (1891), and Sombart's (1938) bourgeois spirit. After so many years, today more than ever, Simmel’s meditation on capitalism suggestsvery actual challenges for our present and future societies.:
Forms of capitalism in Simmel
LENZI F.R.
2021-01-01
Abstract
Georg Simmel set himself the goal of defining the origins and character of modern society, evaluating the meaning it takes on for individuals.His sociology is open to dialogue between disciplines and develops the individual and collective levels together. With this approach, he studied society as a dichotomous, contradictory, and syllogistic world without arriving at a conclusive synthesis.This aspect makes his perspective very current in a world that radicalizes traits of modernity (Giddens 1990) and for which an interpretative key may be in abandoning all attempts at synthesis. A central theme of Simmel's thinking is about the “forms” of modern society.Money is central to these forms, and the metropolis is their setting.These forms lead to a world of contradictions and help define the origins and traits of capitalism, as seen in Max Weber's producer cities (1921, 1924). Capitalism does not have a spirit, but it is a spirit that interacts with the animal spirits of Joseph Alois Schumpeter (1942), Émile Zola's Saccard (1891), and Sombart's (1938) bourgeois spirit. After so many years, today more than ever, Simmel’s meditation on capitalism suggestsvery actual challenges for our present and future societies.:I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
