Focusing on human experiences of self-transcendence, the book presents a fresh perspective on religion, challenging outdated assumptions about modernization and secularization. It argues that faith serves as a means to articulate and interpret these profound experiences, rather than being merely useful or a sign of weakness. By contrasting this view with contemporary religious thinkers, the author connects the discussion to current debates surrounding human rights and universal dignity, offering a nuanced understanding of the role of faith in modern society.
This book provides a comprehensive overview of social theory's evolution since 1945, covering key theorists and debates across English, French, and German literature. It explores various schools of thought, including rational choice, feminism, and neopragmatism, making it a valuable resource for students and those interested in contemporary sociology.
One of the most important issues in public and academic debate is the concept
of value and the difficulty in defining it. In this new book, the leading
social theorist Hans Joas explores the nature of values in relation to some of
the leading figures of twentieth--century philosophy and social theory.
schovat popis
This book by a leading European social theorist examines the contradiction between modernity's ideals and the ongoing reality of war. Analyzing conflicts from World War I to the Balkans, Joas develops a new theory of social change, contributing to the understanding of warfare's role in modern societies.
What are the origins of the idea of human rights and universal human dignity?
How can we most fully understand - and realize - these rights going into the
future? This title sets out a path, proposing an affirmative genealogy in
which human rights are the result of a process of sacralization of every human
being.
Hans Joas presents a groundbreaking sociological theory of religion that challenges prevailing narratives of disenchantment and secularization. By critically analyzing significant texts from the eighteenth century to today, he reconstructs the concept of religion in modernity, highlighting its complexities and the inadequacies of traditional interpretations. Joas offers a fresh perspective that emphasizes the enduring significance of the sacred, proposing an alternative framework for understanding religion's role in contemporary society.
While focusing on social thought, this book draws on many disciplines, including philosophy, anthropology, and political science. It demonstrates the profound difficulties social thinkers - including liberals, socialists, and those intellectuals who could be regarded as the sociologists - had in coming to terms with the phenomenon of war.
Die Soziologie bietet in der Öffentlichkeit immer wieder ein verwirrendes Bild. Berüchtigt für ihre angeblich unverständliche Sprache, von inneren Auseinandersetzungen durchzogen, zu Selbstzweifeln neigend, hat die Soziologie Schwierigkeiten, ihr Wissen zu vermitteln. In die Medien gelangen meist nur pauschalisierende Zeitdiagnosen und demoskopische Befunde. Dies alles hat mit dem Reichtum seriöser soziologischer Forschung und Theoriebildung recht wenig zu tun. Das neue Lehrbuch der Soziologie setzt es sich zur Aufgabe, einen leicht verständlichen Überblick über das Fach zu geben und gleichzeitig fundiert in den neuesten Wissensstand der Disziplin einzuführen. In Anlehnung an ein didaktisch besonders gelungenes amerikanisches Vorbild werden die großen Themengebiete der Soziologie von den führenden deutschen Fachvertretern allgemeinverständlich dargestellt und durch zahlreiche Abbildungen und Schaubilder veranschaulicht. Jedes Kapitel schließt mit Kontrollfragen und einem Glossar. Neben der Bibliografie enthält das Lehrbuch eine Webliografie, die das Internet für Soziologen erschließt.
