On Civilization, Power, and Knowledge: Selected Writings (Volume 1998) (Heritage of Sociology Series)

Product Description
Nobert Elias (1897-1990) is among the great sociologists of the twentieth century. Born in Germany, Elias earned a doctorate in philosophy and then turned to sociology, working with Max Weber's younger brother, Alfred Weber, and with Karl Mannheim. He later fled the Nazi regime in 1935 and spent most of his life in Britain. He is best known for his book,
The Civilizing Process, wherein he traces the subtle changes in manners among the European upper classes since the Middle Ages, and shows how those seemingly innocuous changes in etiquette reflected profound transformations of power relations in society. He later applied these insights to a wide range of subjects, from art and culture to the control of violence, the sociology of sports, the development of knowledge and the sciences, and the methodology of sociology.
This volume is a carefully chosen collection of Elias's most important writings and includes many of his most brilliant ideas. The development of Elias's thinking during the course of his long career is traced along with a discussion of how his work relates to other major sociologists and how the various selections are interconnected. The result is a consistent and stimulating look at one of sociology's founding thinkers.
Amazon.com Review
When a Roman man wished to marry, he bargained with the bride's family on the price, and the state had nothing to say about the matter. When he wished to divorce, he called a neighborhood meeting and announced his decision. If an Athenian athlete died in the course of a contest, he was declared the winner by default. If a French courtier wished to rise in social service, he or she needed to cultivate a skill for reading the constantly changing landscape of who was or was not in royal favor. Such data of everyday life fascinated the German historian Norbert Elias (1897-1990), who discusses these and other matters in this anthology of selections from books such as
The Civilizing Process and
The Society of Individuals.
--Gregory McNamee
About the Author
John Stone is professor of sociology and Chairman of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at George Mason University.
Stephen Mennell is professor of sociology and Chairman of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Monash University, Australia.