Simmel Flashcards
What was Simmel’s primary concern about the modern urban individual?
He was concerned about what compelled the individual to adapt to the mechanical and impersonal forces of modern society AND how those forces shaped their personalities
Why was the concern specifically on urban individuals?
Because the city had the most influences and they were stronger on their personalities
According to Simmel, how do we interpret the meaning of the actions of others?
We interpret the meaning through presuppositions that are provided by society.
What is the definition of presuppositions?
They are social aprior categories that are mutually understood and make social interaction possible.
Simmel also studies forms of sociation, what are forms of sociation?
They are patterns and forms of social interaction that impose coherence (produce consistency) on social interaction or mini social structures that occur through socially interaction
How do forms of sociation occur?
1.) Because of the innate objective and subjective capacities of the mind OR
2.) The human capacity for meaningful social interaction.
What are forms of sociation based on? Why?
Presuppositions because the mutual understanding of response and recognizing it makes interaction possible.
How do presuppositions make social structures possible?
Because their mutually understood patterns of behavior help people understand one another intersubjectively.
What is the definition of culture?
It is the realm of social experience where sociation occurs
What are the two types of culture?
Objective and subjective
What is objective culture?
Objective represents society and objective culture includes the ideas and feelings of individuals that have been embodied in forms of sociation that are universal.
What is the subjective culture?
Subjective represents individuals. Subjective culture cultivates the individuals through interaction with “objects”.
What are the objects that subjective culture is referring to?
Books that you read, Music you listen to, Art that you paint or see, Words you speak
According to Simmel, what are three aprior mechanisms that are fundamental to the existence of a social world? (Focus on individuals)
1.) Individuals exist both inside and outside society
2.) Individuals are both object and subject within a network of communicative interaction.
3.) Individuals are inclined to be self-fufilling or self-completing.
What do the three aprior mechanisms tell us about individuals?
They have self-interests that are critical for society and interaction.
What is the dialectical relationship between individual and society?
It is centered around self-consciousness. Self-consciousness exists so we have a variety of ways to interact with others because each person is unique. If self-consciousness did not exist, symbolic interaction would not exist and our interactions would be genetically predetermined instincts.
What is the definition of conflict?
Conflict a pattern of sociation that entails an internal state of mutual opposition between individuals and society.
How is conflict a positive function for society?
Because it contributes to integration
How does conflict contribute to integration?
1.) Oppositions are resolved
2.) Individuals develop a clearer sense of self through conflict and resolution
How do individuals gain a clearer sense of self?
One’s negation becomes another’s affirmation
What does conflict between groups lead to?
It leads to the centralization within the respective groups
Why do groups become more centralized?
Because conflict with another groups encourages people to come together inside each group and become more in tune to each other especially in war.
How does modern society handle conflict?
By making more rules and law, which centralizes the authority in the legal system and courts. This allows authority to resolve conflicts.
What repercussions occur due to modern society handling the conflict?
Society can no longer reduce or eliminate the personal or individual component of conflict resolution
