H. Schermer & D. Jary 
Form and Dialectic in Georg Simmel’s Sociology 
A New Interpretation

This book shows that a dialectical conceptual model underpins Georg Simmel’s writings. The book provides key examples of social forms – including fashion, the secret and money – as exemplifications of this method. The volume concludes with a reassessment of Simmel’s relevance today.

Table of Content

PART I: SIMMEL’S METHOD AND THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF HIS WORK 1. Interaction, Form and the Dialectical Approach – Simmel’s Analytical Conceptual Framework 2. The Historical Context of Simmel’s Sociology PART II: EXEMPLIFICATIONS 3. Fashion as a Social Form 4. The Poor Man 5. The Secret and Secret Societies PART III: FURTHER ASPECTS OF SIMMEL’S METHOD 6. Absolute and Relative – the Operation of a Single Polarity 7. The Philosophy of the ‘As If’ – the Role of ‘Fictions’ in Science and Social Life 8. Echoes of Darwin – Simmel’s Evolutionism PART IV: THE CONTEMPORARY SIMMEL 9. The Overall Terrain and Contemporary Relevance of Simmel’s Oeuvre

About the author

Henry Schermer was formerly an honorary Research Fellow at Staffordshire University, UK. He previously taught sociology at the Prague University of Economics, Czech Republic. He has a longstanding interest in Georg Simmel, and has also written on The Velvet Revolution.
 

David Jary is Emeritus Professor at Staffordshire University, UK. He has written widely on social theory and his publications include Improving What is Learned at University (with J. Brennan et al).