Existential Sociology

This collection of ten original essays engages the 'crisis in sociology' at the most fundamental level of thought and experience.

Jack D. Douglas (Edited by), John M. Johnson (Edited by)

9780521292252, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 28 October 1977

346 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 2 cm, 0.51 kg

This collection of ten original essays was first published in 1977. It engages the 'crisis in sociology' at the most fundamental level of thought and experience. Existential sociology is defined as the study and understanding of all forms of human existence. Without seeking to erect a pristine philosophical sanctuary of its own, Existential Sociology examines and criticizes the underlying philosophical assumptions of previous theories of social science, while elaborating its own approach to human understanding. The contributors are concerned with constructing practical as well as theoretical truths about social life – how we feel, think and act. In contrast to most other sociologies, the emphasis is on the independence and dominance of human feelings over the evaluative and cognitive features of social actions. Students and teachers of sociology and people in related fields interested in the connection between social science and their own subjects will find Existential Sociology useful and absorbing.

Introduction
About the contributors
Part I. Aspects of Existential Sociology: 1. Existential sociology Jack D. Douglas
Part II. The Fundamental Issues and Existential Sociology: 2. The emergence of existential thought: philosophical perspectives on positivist and humanist forms of social theory Richard H. Brown
3. The existential thought of Jean Paul Sartre and Maurice Merleau-Ponty Andrea Fontana and Richard Van de Water
Part III. The Phenomenological Sociologies and Existential Sociology: 4. The sociology of Alfred Schutz David L. Altheide
5. Ethnomethodology and existential sociology John M. Johnson
6. Practical reasoning in action John P. Anderson
Part IV. Beyond the Rational Frontwork: 7. Behind the rational appearances: fusion of thinking and feeling in sociological research John M. Johnson
8. Occasioned transcendence John M. Johnson
Part V. The Existential Self: 9. The chronic pain experience Joseph A. Kotarba
10. The existential self in the gay world Carol A. B. Warren and Barbara Ponse
Appendix: the origins of existential sociology Jack D. Douglas
Notes
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Sociology & anthropology [JH]