Discourse and Knowledge: The Making of Enlightenment Sociology: 1 (Studies in Social and Political Thought) - Softcover

Strydom, Piet

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0853238154 ISBN 13: 9780853238157

Publisher: Liverpool University Press, 2000

Synopsis

By closely analysing the contributions of such theorists as More, Hobbes, Vico, Montesquieu, Ferguson and Millar to the emergence of sociology in its original form, Piet Strydom follows the discursive construction of sociology in the context of the society-wide early modern practical discourse about violence and rights. Parallels with the nineteenth- and twentieth-century discourse on poverty and justice and the contemporary discourse of risk and responsibility allow the author to reflect not only on the generation of knowledge through discourse but also on the role that sociology itself plays in this process.

About this title

Product Description

Discourse and Knowledge Analysing the contributions of such theorists as More, Hobbes, Vico, Montesquieu, Ferguson and Millar to the emergence of sociology in its original form, this title follows the discursive construction of sociology in the context of the society-wide early modern practical discourse about violence and rights. Full description

Synopsis

This work aims to offer an original interpretation of the rise of sociology from a contemporary point of view that is both theoretically and historically formed. Rather than assuming the "dual revolution" as watershed, it goes back behind the French Revolution and the industrial revolution in order to start from the more pervasive communication revolution. The central theme of the book is the topical one of the role played by discourse in the construction of knowledge. It is developed through an investigation of a neglected period in the history of sociology. By analyzing the contributions of such theorists as More, Hobbes, Vico, Montesquieu, Ferguson and Millar to the discursive construction of sociology in the context of the society-wide early modern practical discourse about violence and rights. The author makes use of epistemological, theoretical and methodological advances. He explores constructivism, synthesizes Habermas and Foucault to arrive at a new theory of discourse, and applies a finely elaborated frame and discourse analysis.

Edition details

• Publisher: Liverpool University Press
• Publication date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0853238154
• ISBN 13: 9780853238157
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 352