Love as Passion: The Codification of Intimacy - Softcover

Luhmann, Niklas

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0745600786 ISBN 13: 9780745600789

Publisher: Polity, 2012

Synopsis

In this important book Niklas Luhmann - one of the leading social thinkers of the late 20th century - analyses the emergence of ‘love' as the basis of personal relationships in modern societies. He argues that, while family systems remained intact in the transition from traditional to modern societies, a semantics for love developed to accommodate extra-marital relationships; this semantics was then transferred back into marriage and eventually transformed marriage itself. Drawing on a diverse range of historical and literary sources, Luhmann retraces the emergence and evolution of the special semantics of passionate love that has come to form the basis of modern forms of intimacy and personal relationships.

This classic book by Luhmann has been widely recognized as a work of major importance. It is an outstanding contribution to social theory and it provides an original and illuminating perspective on the nature of modern marriage and sexuality.

About this title

About the Author

Niklas Luhmann was Professor Emeritus of Sociology at Bielefeld University.

Edition details

• Publisher: Polity
• Publication date: 2012
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0745600786
• ISBN 13: 9780745600789
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 200