8.1 The Last of the Great Classic Sociologists

Social Sciences - UvA

4 Aug 201505:44

Summary

TLDRNorbert Elias, a key figure in classical sociology, is renowned for his pre-WWII works 'The Court Society' and 'On the Process of Civilization.' His ideas, influenced by Marx, Weber, and Freud, shaped long-term sociological trends. Elias, who faced persecution as a Jewish scholar, fled to London where he wrote his magnum opus. Despite late recognition in the 1970s, his contributions remain foundational. Personal anecdotes highlight his enduring intellect and kindness, painting Elias as the last of the great classical sociologists.

Takeaways

📚 Norbert Elias is considered the last representative of the classic tradition in sociology.
📖 His most important works, 'The Civilizing Process' and 'The Society of Individuals', were published before World War II.
💡 Elias' fundamental ideas are rooted in the works of Marx, Weber, and Freud, though he rarely refers to them directly.
🔍 His historical approach is influenced by Marx and Weber's interest in long-term trends.
🤝 The speaker personally met Norbert Elias and attended his lectures and seminars in Amsterdam.
👴 Elias was known for aging gracefully and maintaining a sharp mind even in his later years.
👨‍🏫 He was friendly and open with his students, contrasting with the authoritarian style of other academics at the time.
📚 Elias wrote his first important book, 'The Civilizing Process', in Frankfurt at the age of 36.
🌍 Due to his Jewish origin, Elias had to flee Germany when the National Socialist Party came to power, eventually settling in London.
📚 His magnum opus was published in German but could not be distributed in Germany and Austria because of his Jewish heritage.
🕒 It wasn't until the late 60s that Elias' work received the recognition it deserved, with German, English, and French editions bringing it to a wider audience.
🎓 Elias' historical sociological theory was developed in the 1930s, and he should be recognized as one of the great classical sociologists.

Q & A

Who is Norbert Elias and what is his significance in sociology?
-Norbert Elias is considered one of the last representatives of the classic tradition in sociology. His most important works, 'The Civilizing Process' and 'The Society of Individuals', were published before World War II and contain his fundamental ideas. His work integrates and builds upon the theories of Marx, Weber, Freud, and others.
What is the connection between Norbert Elias and classical sociologists like Marx, Weber, and Freud?
-Elias' fundamentally historical approach owes a lot to Marx and Weber, who were interested in long-term trends. Although he rarely refers directly to these predecessors, his familiarity with their ideas is evident in his work. Additionally, his work shows influence from Freud's theories.
How did Norbert Elias' personal experiences influence his sociological work?
-Elias' experiences, particularly his forced exile from Germany due to his Jewish origin during the rise of the National Socialist Party, likely influenced his sociological perspective. His magnum opus, 'The Civilizing Process', was written during his time in London.
Why was Norbert Elias' work not widely recognized until the late 1960s?
-Elias' work received the recognition it deserved only at the end of the 1960s when German editions and English and French translations became available. This late reception was due in part to the inability to distribute his work in German-speaking countries during the Nazi era.
What was the impact of Norbert Elias' teaching style on his students?
-Elias was known for being very open and friendly with his students, which was in stark contrast to many other German academics of his time. His students loved him for his approachability and lack of authoritarianism.
How did Norbert Elias' health affect his later years?
-Towards the end of his life, Elias faced serious problems with his sight and became practically deaf. Despite these challenges, his mind remained sharp, and he continued to engage in discussions and offer advice to his students.
What is the significance of Norbert Elias' work being recognized in the 1970s, decades after its initial publication?
-The belated recognition of Elias' work in the 1970s might give the impression that he was a contemporary of modern theorists like Goffman or Bourdieu. However, it's important to recognize that his core contributions were developed in the 1930s, making him one of the last great classical sociologists.
How did Norbert Elias' personal encounters with the narrator contribute to the narrator's understanding of Elias' work?
-The narrator had the opportunity to attend Elias' seminars and lectures, and engage in discussions with him. These personal encounters provided the narrator with a deeper understanding of Elias' work and his approach to sociology.
What can be inferred about Norbert Elias' personality from the script?
-From the script, it can be inferred that Norbert Elias was a gracious, open, and friendly individual. He was also known for his sharp mind and his ability to engage with students and colleagues in a warm and approachable manner.
How did the political climate of the 1930s in Germany affect Norbert Elias' academic career?
-The rise of the National Socialist Party in Germany, which led to anti-Semitic policies, forced Elias, who was of Jewish origin, to leave the country. This disrupted what could have been a promising academic career in Germany.
What is the significance of Norbert Elias being a 'guest lecturer' in Amsterdam during the 1960s and 70s?
-Elias' presence as a guest lecturer in Amsterdam indicates that he was in demand as an educator and scholar even after his initial work was not widely recognized. It also suggests that his ideas were gaining traction and influence in academic circles.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Norbert Elias: The Last of the Classical Sociologists

Norbert Elias, a prominent sociologist, is considered the last representative of the classic sociological tradition. His significant works, 'The Core Society' and 'On the Process of Civilization,' were published prior to World War II. Despite writing more after the war, his foundational ideas are encapsulated in these pre-war publications. Elias was influenced by the works of Marx, Weber, and Freud, and his historical approach is reminiscent of Marx and Weber's interest in long-term societal trends. The speaker had the opportunity to meet Elias, who was a frequent guest lecturer in Amsterdam, and found him to be a very learned and friendly individual. Elias was admired for his ability to age gracefully, maintaining a sharp mind and keen memory even in his later years. His first important book was written in Frankfurt before the rise of the Nazi party, which forced him to flee to London due to his Jewish heritage. It was there that he wrote 'On the Process of Civilization,' which gained recognition only in the 1960s with the publication of German editions and English and French translations. Despite the delayed recognition, Elias's work is mistakenly perceived as contemporary with modern theorists like Goffman or Bourdieu, which is an error.

05:02

🎓 Elias's Historical Sociological Theory and Legacy

The outline of Norbert Elias's historical sociological theory was already established in the 1930s, and his core contributions were not a result of debates with contemporaries like Merton, but rather with the classical sociologists Marx, Durkheim, Simmel, and Weber. Elias is best viewed as the last of the great classical sociologists, whose work has had a lasting impact on the field. His ideas were not developed in dialogue with modern theorists but were deeply rooted in the foundational works of the early 20th century. This historical context is crucial for understanding Elias's position and contributions to sociology, emphasizing the importance of recognizing his work within the classical tradition rather than mistakenly aligning him with more recent theorists.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Norbert Elias

Norbert Elias was a German sociologist known for his contributions to the field, particularly in the areas of sociology of knowledge and process sociology. In the video, he is described as the last representative of the classic tradition in sociology, with his most important works predating World War II. His ideas are foundational to understanding the themes of historical and social change discussed in the video.

💡The Civilizing Process

The Civilizing Process is Elias's magnum opus, which explores the historical development of social behavior and manners. The book is mentioned as having been written in German and initially not widely distributed due to Elias's Jewish heritage and the political climate of the time. It is central to the video's discussion of Elias's work and its eventual recognition in the 1960s.

💡Classic Tradition

The classic tradition in sociology refers to the foundational works and thinkers that established the discipline, such as Marx, Weber, and Freud. Elias is described as the last representative of this tradition, indicating his connection to and continuation of these foundational ideas.

💡Marx

Karl Marx is a foundational figure in sociology and political philosophy, known for his theories on historical materialism and class struggle. The video mentions that Elias's fundamentally historical approach owes a lot to Marx, showing the influence of Marx's ideas on Elias's work.

💡Weber

Max Weber was a German sociologist and philosopher known for his work on the sociology of religion and the development of the concept of rationalization. Elias's work is said to be built on the insights of Marx, Weber, and Freud, indicating Weber's influence on Elias's understanding of long-term social trends.

💡Freud

Sigmund Freud was an Austrian neurologist and the founder of psychoanalysis. The video mentions Elias's familiarity with Freud's work, suggesting that Freud's ideas may have influenced Elias's understanding of individual and social behavior.

💡Historical Sociological Theory

Historical sociological theory refers to the study of society and social behavior over time, with a focus on long-term trends and changes. Elias's work is described as having laid the groundwork for this theory in the 1930s, emphasizing the historical aspect of his sociological perspective.

💡Process Sociology

Process sociology is a theoretical approach that focuses on the continuous and dynamic nature of social processes. Elias is known for developing this approach, which is integral to the video's discussion of his work and its focus on the evolution of society and civilization.

💡Academic Career

The term 'academic career' refers to the professional journey of a scholar within the academic world. Elias's academic career is highlighted in the video, particularly his promising start as an assistant professor in Frankfurt and the abrupt change due to the rise of the National Socialist Party.

💡Jewish Origin

Elias's Jewish origin is mentioned as the reason he had to leave Germany when the National Socialist Party came to power. This personal detail is crucial to understanding the challenges he faced and the impact on his academic career.

💡Distribution

In the context of the video, 'distribution' refers to the availability and dissemination of Elias's work. The Civilizing Process was initially limited in its distribution due to political circumstances, which changed in the 1960s when it gained wider recognition.

Highlights

Norbert Elias is considered the last representative of the classic tradition in sociology.

His most important works, 'The Civilizing Process' and 'The Society of Individuals', were published before World War II.

Elias' fundamental ideas are contained in his pre-war books, which were influenced by Marx, Weber, and Freud.

Elias' historical approach is heavily influenced by Marx and Weber's interest in long-term trends.

The speaker personally met Norbert Elias and attended his lectures in Amsterdam.

Elias was known for his open and friendly demeanor, in contrast to other German academics of his time.

Elias continued to engage in intellectual discussions even in his old age despite health issues.

Elias' sharp mind and memory remained intact even in his late years.

Elias' first important book, 'The Society of Individuals', was written in Frankfurt in 1933.

Elias had to leave Germany due to his Jewish origin when the National Socialist Party came to power.

He wrote his magnum opus, 'The Civilizing Process', in London.

Elias' work was not widely recognized until the late 1960s with the publication of German, English, and French editions.

Elias' work was received enthusiastically in the 1970s, 30 years after it was written.

Elias should be seen as a contemporary of modern theorists like Goffman or Bourdieu, but this is a misconception.

Elias' historical sociological theory was already outlined in the 1930s.

Elias' core contributions were developed in a debate with Marx, Durkheim, Simmel, and Weber, not with modern theorists.

Elias is the last of the great classical sociologists.