Richard Kilminster Books

Few sociologists of the first rank have scandalized the academic world to the extent that Elias did. Developed out of the German sociology of knowledge in the 1920s, Elias 's sociology contains a sweeping radicalism which declares an academic war on all your houses . His sociology of the human condition sweeps aside the contemporary focus on modernity and rejects most of the paradigms of sociology as one-sided, economistic, teleological, individualistic and/or rationalistic. As sociologists, Elias also asks us to distance ourselves from mainstream psychology, history and above all, philosophy, which is summarily abandoned, although carried forward on a higher level.This enlightening book written by a close friend and pupil of Elias, is the first book to explain the refractory, uncomfortable, side of Elias 's sociological radicalism and to brace us for its implications. It is also the first in-depth analysis of Elias 's last work The Symbol Theory in the light of selected contemporary developments in archaeology, anthropology and evolutionary theory.

Focusing on historical analysis, the book explores the significant challenges faced by sociology and their contemporary implications, while deliberately stepping away from current social theory debates. It delves into the historical context of sociology's development and its enduring impact on modern society, offering a critical perspective on the discipline's evolution and relevance today.

Focusing on the 'philosophy of praxis,' this sociological critique examines its significance in the works of key Western Marxists during the inter-war period. It provides an in-depth analysis of Marx and Hegel, evaluating the implications of Marx's assertions that genuine theory is validated through praxis and that significant social changes could ultimately make sociology unnecessary. The book challenges and contextualizes these ideas within the broader framework of social theory, offering insights into the evolution of Marxist thought.

Exploring the humanistic perspective integral to Norbert Elias's figurational-process sociology, this book critiques the prevailing hyper-individualism and narrow policy focus in contemporary research. It aims to broaden sociological understanding by emphasizing the complexities of the human condition, encouraging a richer, more holistic approach to sociology that transcends mere policy analysis.

This sociological critique of the philosophy of praxis looks at the importance of the concept in the social theory of leading influential Western Marxists such as Lukacs, Gramsci, Korsch, Horkheimer, Marcuse and Adorno in the inter-war period. It offers a detailed critique of Marx and Hegel, and explores the validity and implications for sociology of two of Marx s ideas which the later theorists made the centre piece of their social theory: first, that true theory is authenticated by praxis, and second, its corollary that certain major social transformations should and would in practice render sociology redundant. "