Reason and Culture: The Historic Role of Rationality and Rationalism
by Ernest Gellner
New Perspectives on the Past (1992)
44 Members (3.00)
On This Page
Description
Since the 17th century, Western society has had a turbulent relationship with Reason. Descartes set out to reorganize all his opinions in the light of Reason, allowing, as Pascal bitterly reproached him, nothing else. In the course of the centuries which followed, the relationship with Reason became the object of a vigorous, often passionate debate. David Hume declared Reason to be impotent; Immanuel Kant observed that men suffered from 'misology' as the result of their disappointed show more expectations from Reason; G.W.F. Hegel declared that the main insight of philosophy consisted of the realization that Reason masterminded and guided all history. The debate has not remained restricted to philosophy. Max Weber, the most influential modern sociologist, was obsessed with the distinctive role of Reason in Western society, and the part it played in engendering industrialism. Social anthropologists have been preoccupied both with the universality and the diversity of conceptual thought. Emile Durkheim taught them to ask why all men were rational, whilst Max Weber taught sociologists to ask why some men were more rational than others. This book brings together the philosophical, historical and sociological discussions of rationality and strives to make clear the underlying issues and the continuity of the debate in the various disciplines. show lessTags
Recommendations
Member Reviews
Members
- Recently Added By
Author Information
44+ Works 1,954 Members
Ernest Gellner is equally well known as a sociologist, philosopher and social anthropologist. He was Professor of Philosophy at the London School of Economics from 1962 to 1984 and is currently Professor of Social Anthropology at the University of Cambridge
Series
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Reason and Culture: The Historic Role of Rationality and Rationalism
Classifications
- Genres
- Anthropology, Sociology, Philosophy, Nonfiction, History, General Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 301.01 — Society, government, & culture Social sciences, sociology & anthropology Sociology and anthropology standard subdivisions of sociology and/or anthropology Philosophy and theory
- LCC
- HM24 .G425 — Social sciences Sociology (General) Sociology These are obsolete numbers no longer used
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 44
- Popularity
- 675,762
- Rating
- (3.00)
- Languages
- 5 — Czech, Dutch, English, Italian, Spanish
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 7
