scholarly journals Religion as Self-Transcendence. A Simmelian Framework for Authenticity

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Eva Sara Montemaggi
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Modern Society ◽  
The Self ◽  
Social Differentiation ◽  
Philosophy Of Life ◽  
Social Conditioning ◽  
The Social ◽  
Accurate Position ◽  
Self Transcendence ◽  
Existentialist Philosophy

Georg Simmel’s writings on religion have too often been overlooked, notwithstanding his undisputed status as one of the founders of sociology. Simmel’s metaphysical inclination may give the impression that his thoughts on religion are closer to theology than sociology. This article proposes an interpretation of Simmel’s notion of religiosity (Die Religiosität) in conjunction with the notion of self-transcendence, part of the philosophy of life (Lebensphilosophie) he espoused towards the end of his life. The article does not pursue a filologically accurate position, but a development drawing on Simmel’s notions. Accordingly, it is proposed to interpret religiosity as a sensitivity to self-transcendence, the awareness of social conditioning, or “facticity”, and the striving towards going beyond it. The tension between facticity and self-transcendence reflects – what Simmel called – the ‘conflict of culture’, the ‘malaise’ of the fragmentation of the self resulting from the social differentiation of modern society. Religiosity, as a sensitivity to self-transcendence, is expressed in the pursuit of authenticity thus countering the conflict of culture. This interpretation allows us to see religion as a path, albeit not the only one, to authenticity, understood as challenging facticity, which echoes in later existentialist philosophy and contemporary empirical studies.

Culturally Gendered

2016 ◽  
pp. 99-135
Author(s):  
Ben Tran
Keyword(s):  
Western Culture ◽  
Modern Society ◽  
Social Differentiation ◽  
Masculinity Studies ◽  
The Social ◽  
Relational Concept ◽  
Cultural Power ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Successful Integration

The social differentiation between males and females is a relational concept: masculinity exists and has meaning only as it contrasts with femininity, and vice versa (Connell, 1995, p. 43). Western culture, especially, prides itself on the successful integration of feminism into modern society—though some still question how successfully integrated feminism truly is while others ponder whether or not cultural power in society has been reversed. As masculinity studies developed, according to Simpson (2004), so too did the concept of multiple masculinities, the idea that men respond to and embrace masculinity in a variety of ways because the expression of masculinity can “change according to time, the event, and the perspectives” of a group or community (Imms, 2000, p. 156), as demonstrated by Heasley (2005), and men who are in female dominated occupations. Nevertheless, multiple masculinities are commonly segregated into the following categories: hegemonic, complicit, subordinated, and marginalized.

scholarly journals Analysis of Social Differentiation of Population in the Region

2020 ◽  
pp. 038-044
Author(s):  
T. A. Bondarskaya ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Modern Society ◽  
Social Needs ◽  
Economic Consequences ◽  
Social Differentiation ◽  
Main Task ◽  
Social Sphere ◽  
The Social ◽  
Comprehensive Development ◽  
Radical Transformation

The choice and implementation of the appropriate strategy for the socio-economic development of the region are fundamental for meeting the social needs of citizens. At present, when determining the vector of economic development, municipalities take into account the trends in the development of society and the social problems arising in it, as well as their economic consequences. However, the radical transformation of the social sphere, which is so important for modern society, namely its social security, does not cease to segment society into opposite strata of different status. This topic is especially relevant for modern conditions, when the state guardianship is increasing in matters of conducting a modern and active social policy. The main task in this direction is the creation of such conditions for the population of the region, which could contribute to the comprehensive development of the social sphere. The analysis of indicators of the social sphere of the Tambov region is carried out, as well as problems and tasks for their solution are identified.

scholarly journals Social stratification in the sociological theory of P. Bourdieu

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 26-43
Author(s):  
S. A. Baturenko
Keyword(s):  
Social Structure ◽  
Social Mobility ◽  
Social Stratification ◽  
Sociological Theory ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Modern Society ◽  
Industrial Society ◽  
The Social ◽  
Modern System ◽  
Sociological Explanation

The relevance of the work is due to the transformations of the modern system of social stratification and opportunities for social mobility, as well as the need to find relevant approaches for their study. The article is devoted to reconstruction in a holistic form of the main provisions of the theory of social stratification of P. Bourdieu. His vision of the social structure of modern society is original and based on numerous empirical studies. The article analyzes the methodological foundations and features of the theory of social stratification of the French sociologist. Heuristic potential of one of modern constructivist methodological approaches to analysis of social stratification and social mobility is considered. P. Bourdieu significantly contributed to the fact that the sociological explanation of the modern system of social stratification is being transformed. He described the main characteristics of the social structure of a post-industrial society, the main trends in its development, developed proposals for using some categories necessary to explain it. Developing his own theory of habitus and the theory of social capital, P. Bourdieu proposes to explore the position of the individual, which is represented through a lifestyle. Bourdieu’s theory of social stratification can be applied to the problems of modern social inequality. The author of the article made an attempt to trace the research logic of the French sociologist, as well as show the relationship of various blocks of the theory of social stratification.

scholarly journals The Social Dynamics of Spirituality and Youthfulness: A Social Interplay Between Disposition and Process

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 123-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan James O. Canete ◽  
Digvijay Pandey
Keyword(s):  
Present State ◽  
Social Dynamics ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
The Self ◽  
Social Structures ◽  
Practical Observation ◽  
Existential Meaning ◽  
Social Sphere ◽  
The Social ◽  
Self Transcendence

Issues and topics concerning spirituality is not new in the social sphere. Many great thinkers in the fields of philosophy and theology have tried to excavate the richness of the topic. Though not new a topic, there are still various avenues in the sphere of spirituality that need to be examined and discovered through intellectual abstraction and practical observation; it is a topic that is ancient yet new, an idea suggesting a paradox of time and permanence. The relevance of spirituality cannot be contained in a specific era nor time frame or even in established social structures because it deals with people and their disposition toward life and a certain desire in their very being for transcendence. In other words, spirituality is all about a person’s attitude towards life and a quest for an existential meaning behind every experience that might be of unequalled value or significance. Hence, spirituality is not static but dynamic in its very being, for as long as man desires to go beyond his present state of being and moves into another manner of existence, spirituality is evident; it manifests itself in that affinity for self-transcendence. The term youth, alternatively, also speaks of a dynamic progressive or regressive movement of the self, outside of its present state of being. This study, therefore, is an attempt to phenomenologically interpret and appropriate the concept of spirituality as an unfolding of existence on the concept of youthfulness not just an ordinary process in the life of a person wherein one becomes open for self-improvement or self-transcendence

scholarly journals Hierarchy, social pathology and the failure of recognition theory

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Social Structure ◽  
Social Action ◽  
Modern Society ◽  
The Self ◽  
Social Hierarchies ◽  
Social Pathology ◽  
Normative Power ◽  
The Social ◽  
Recognition Theory ◽  
Relational Framework

This article argues that the dynamics behind the generation of social pathologies in modern society also undermine the social-relational framework for recognition. It therefore claims that the theory of recognition is impotent in face of the kinds of normative power exerted by social hierarchies. The article begins by discussing the particular forms of social pathology and their relation to hierarchical forms of social structure that are based on domination, control and subordination and then shows how the internalization of the norms that shape and hold together hierarchical social formations causes pathologies within the self. As a result of these processes, the recognitive aspects of social action that the theory of recognition posits are unable to overcome and in fact reproduce and in many instances reinforce the pathologies themselves.

Self, Society, and Repression in Babel: A Psychoanalytic Perspective

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-25
Author(s):  
A.M. Iqbal
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Production ◽  
Modern Society ◽  
Social World ◽  
The Self ◽  
External Reality ◽  
Award Winning ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Interests ◽  
Psychoanalytic Perspective ◽  
The Relationship

As the prevailing studies tend to neglect how media depict the sociological question about the relationship between self and society and the dualism between pleasure and reality in modern society, this article examines this important issue by analyzing the award-winning film Babel by using a psychoanalytic perspective. Based on textual analysis of the film’s storylines, this article argues that Babel not only substantially represents the relationship between self and society, but also depicts the continuing tension and dualism between them. This is seen in the storylines of its characters that illustrate the relationship between sexual drives and social regulations. For the sake of social interests and cultural production, pleasure is repressed by external reality and sexuality is repressed through socially sanctioned sexual regulations. The self must attempt to balance between libidinal desire and social control to enter the normality of the social world.

Selfie-Objectification as a Facet of the Social Media Craze Among Youths in Nigeria

2018 ◽  
pp. 236-252
Author(s):  
Floribert Patrick Calvain Endong
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Positive Relationship ◽  
The Self ◽  
Social Pathology ◽  
Philosophy Of Life ◽  
Secondary Sources ◽  
The Social ◽  
Postmodern Philosophy ◽  
Self Objectification

The advent of the social media in Nigeria has given rise to a plurality of information technology syndromes as well as multiple forms of social leprosies. One of these social leprosies has been selfie-objectification manifested by naked and highly sexualized selfies. As a form of social pathology, selfie-objectification has particularly engulfed the youths, corrupting the latter's innocence and affecting the positive relationship culture among them. Using observations and secondary sources, this chapter explores two opposing perspectives on selfie-objectification in Nigeria namely conservative and liberal. It criticizes the conservative reading of the self-objectification paradigm, arguing that any interpretation of selfie-objectification by Nigerian youths solely as a culturally insensitive act and a western cultural import is myopic and objectionable. The phenomenon should rather be read along the line of Nigerian youths' visible embrace of a liberal and postmodern philosophy of life.

Selfie-Objectification as a Facet of the Social Media Craze Among Youths in Nigeria

2019 ◽  
pp. 285-301
Author(s):  
Floribert Patrick Calvain Endong
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Positive Relationship ◽  
The Self ◽  
Social Pathology ◽  
Philosophy Of Life ◽  
Secondary Sources ◽  
The Social ◽  
Postmodern Philosophy ◽  
Self Objectification

The advent of the social media in Nigeria has given rise to a plurality of information technology syndromes as well as multiple forms of social leprosies. One of these social leprosies has been selfie-objectification manifested by naked and highly sexualized selfies. As a form of social pathology, selfie-objectification has particularly engulfed the youths, corrupting the latter's innocence and affecting the positive relationship culture among them. Using observations and secondary sources, this chapter explores two opposing perspectives on selfie-objectification in Nigeria namely conservative and liberal. It criticizes the conservative reading of the self-objectification paradigm, arguing that any interpretation of selfie-objectification by Nigerian youths solely as a culturally insensitive act and a western cultural import is myopic and objectionable. The phenomenon should rather be read along the line of Nigerian youths' visible embrace of a liberal and postmodern philosophy of life.

“Playing Indian” and the Search for Authenticity in Modern White America

Prospects ◽  
1980 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 17-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jay Mechling
Keyword(s):  
Everyday Life ◽  
Time Scales ◽  
Modern Society ◽  
The Self ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
Social Pathology ◽  
American Life ◽  
Authentic Existence ◽  
The Social

Modern society, it would seem, is a conspiracy against authentic existence. Freud thought this true of all civilization, but a generation of literary critics, historians, and social scientists are laying at the door of modern civilization responsibility for the pathologies of everyday life. The time scales vary greatly, some scholars insisting that the modern revolution in the conception of the self has taken centuries, while others see this process as having taken place within the last century, but the savants all seem to arrive at roughly the same conclusion, namely, that what characterizes modern American life in this century is an unconsummated search for authenticity. The social pathology of this search, those most critical of modernity conclude, is narcissism. Clearly, whatever form the argument takes and regardless of the willingness of the analyst to moralize on the basis of his or her analysis, authenticity is a “hot” subject.

Culturally Gendered

2017 ◽  
pp. 1190-1217
Author(s):  
Ben Tran
Keyword(s):  
Western Culture ◽  
Modern Society ◽  
Social Differentiation ◽  
Masculinity Studies ◽  
The Social ◽  
Relational Concept ◽  
Cultural Power ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Successful Integration

The social differentiation between males and females is a relational concept: masculinity exists and has meaning only as it contrasts with femininity, and vice versa (Connell, 1995, p. 43). Western culture, especially, prides itself on the successful integration of feminism into modern society—though some still question how successfully integrated feminism truly is while others ponder whether or not cultural power in society has been reversed. As masculinity studies developed, according to Simpson (2004), so too did the concept of multiple masculinities, the idea that men respond to and embrace masculinity in a variety of ways because the expression of masculinity can “change according to time, the event, and the perspectives” of a group or community (Imms, 2000, p. 156), as demonstrated by Heasley (2005), and men who are in female dominated occupations. Nevertheless, multiple masculinities are commonly segregated into the following categories: hegemonic, complicit, subordinated, and marginalized.

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