Hartmut Rosa Book order

What role does religion play in modern societies? Is it merely an anachronism that hinders our economic growth? Is it a kind of superstition that people should be left to enjoy in private but should refrain from discussing in public? It is no secret that the Christian churches in Western societies have massive problems – quite apart from the recent scandals. Shrinking congregations are just one sign of their diminishing relevance. But what would happen to democracy if the resonance of religion were to fade entirely? Leading sociologist Hartmut Rosa addresses this fundamental question in a way that makes us think afresh about religion and the role it plays in our contemporary democratic societies. He argues that religion fosters a culture of dialogue, listening and reflection that allows us to form connections with others and experience the world as meaningful. This, in turn, helps citizens cultivate a democratic sensibility that can serve as an anchor in unstable times. With his characteristic clarity and insight, Rosa analyses our contemporary societies and dares to ponder what would happen if the centuries-old reservoir of wisdom embedded in religion were to be lost in an ultra-modern age.

Focusing on the need for comprehensive social theory during crises, this work examines the contributions of German sociologists Andreas Reckwitz and Hartmut Rosa. Despite their differing approaches, both emphasize the importance of analyzing modernity as a social formation. Their theories aim to address the structural conditions and dynamics of contemporary societies, ultimately seeking to diagnose and propose solutions for the crises facing the modern world.

The price we pay for our modern desire to control the world--

Hartmut Rosa explores the concept of "resonance" as a solution to the increasing pace of modern life, which often leads to dissatisfaction. He argues that true quality of life transcends mere resources and fleeting happiness, emphasizing the importance of our connections and relationships with the world around us. This thought-provoking work invites readers to reconsider how they measure fulfillment and happiness in an increasingly accelerated society.

Hegels Philosophie erlebt in den vergangenen Jahren eine erstaunliche Renaissance, in vielen Ländern wächst die Aufmerksamkeit für diese philosophische Konzeption enorm. Dabei steht die Frage nach der Aktualität und Modernität im Zentrum der neuen Interpretationswege, frei von den verstaubten Klischees und den böswilligen Fehldeutungen speziell im 20. Jahrhundert. In den Beiträgen des Sammelbandes geht es besonders um die Frage nach der aktuellen Relevanz von Hegels praktischer Philosophie. Das Spektrum reicht von Hegel als Begründer der Idee des modernen sozialen Staates und seines Verständnisses von Recht, Widerstand und Empörung über seine Kritik an der altindischen Kultur und um die Sicht auf die Demokratie bis hin zur Präsenz von Hegel in heutigen Debatten in der französischen Phänomenologie und in den Diskussionen um die moderne Ethik.

Hartmut Rosa advances an account of the temporal structure of society from the perspective of critical theory. He identifies in particular three categories of change in the tempo of modern social life: technological acceleration, evident in transportation, communication, and production; the acceleration of social change, reflected in cultural knowledge, social institutions, and personal relationships; and acceleration in the pace of life, which happens despite the expectation that technological change should increase an individual's free time. According to Rosa, both the structural and cultural aspects of our institutions and practices are marked by the "shrinking of the present," a decreasing time period during which expectations based on past experience reliably match future results and events. When this phenomenon combines with technological acceleration and the increasing pace of life, time seems to flow ever faster, making our relationships to each other and the world fluid and problematic. It is as if we are standing on "slipping slopes," a steep social terrain that is itself in motion and in turn demands faster lives and technology. As Rosa deftly shows, this self-reinforcing feedback loop fundamentally determines the character of modern life.