By Steven Seidman
Within the 5th version Contested wisdom, social theorist Steven Seidman provides the newest themes in social concept and addresses the present shift of ’universalist theorists’ to networks of clustered debates. •Responds to present concerns, debates, and new social activities •Reviews sociological idea from a latest viewpoint •Reveals how the common theorist and the period of rival colleges has been changed via networks of clustered debates which are rather ’autonomous’ and interdisciplinary •Features updates and in-depth discussions of the most recent clustered debates in social theory—intimacy, postcolonial nationalism, and the idea that of ’the different’ •Challenges social scientists to resume their dedication to the $64000 ethical and political position social wisdom performs in public lifestyles •Accompanied through a better half web site for college kids at www.wiley.com/go/seidman that includes bankruptcy outlines and invaluable net hyperlinks; an teacher web site is usually accessed which gains password-protected PowerPoint instructing slides
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Additional info for Contested Knowledge: Social Theory Today
Sample text
For example, his claim that human nature is not uniform and fixed but that humans make and remake their nature through their actions is asserted, not demonstrated. We can just as easily argue that human nature is constant and uniform though humans change their beliefs and values. Assumptions about human nature as fixed or changeable or good or bad are akin to religious or metaphysical beliefs. Similarly, Marx’s claim that economic productive activity is more important than culture in structuring society is little more than a statement of faith or a strategic political claim.
Rationalizing the workplace further disempowers workers; it often results in depressed wages, worker insecurity as machines replace workers, and extreme specialization, which strips work of all its skill and imagination. In a word, every effort by capitalists to increase profits intensifies worker degradation and discontent. indd 31 5/31/2012 10:49:37 PM 32 The Rise of the Classical Tradition spiritual impoverishment. Their work lives are bereft of freedom and creativity; their families are often torn apart as both parents and children work; their communities are devastated by poverty and social instability.
Capital is a story of a social system that controls the lives of all individuals. Moreover, Marx is not saying that the system is without redeeming value. Marx had great admiration for the capacity of capitalism to produce wealth, stimulate technological, social, and cultural innovation, and create the conditions for democracy. Capitalism creates social conditions that make human freedom possible, but, at the same time, it undermines that potential by creating gross social inequalities; only the business class truly benefits from capitalism’s remarkable productivity.
