Man and Society in an Age of Reconstruction: Studies in Modern Social Structure" ... The main thesis of this book is that the traditional principle of laissez-faire, applied in an era of mass society, can only lead to chaos. The thesis borne out by an analysis of the social processes, which are leading to individual and community disorganization, to the re-emergence of irrationaluism, and to the frustration of cultural leadership, which leaves democratic society as a whole at the mercy of the dictators. Professor Mannheim, therefore, develops the idea of a new form of planning--planning for freedom. His object is to outline a society in which there shall be control without standardization and dictatorship; co-ordination of social and psychological techniques without interference with liberal culture. In the development of his thesis he throws light on the fundamental problems affecting society; whether control of the human cultural side of social life is feasible; whether human nature can be changed; whether the human mind can cope with the tasks set it by the necessity for planning, and what contributions psychology and the social sciences can make towards this end ..."--Taken from inserted label |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
abstract achievement action activities analysis attitudes Auslandsdeutsch become behaviour bibliography changes classes competition concerned concrete conflict create cultural democracy democratic dictatorship division of labour economic effects elements élites emotional empiricism exist fact factors Fascism forces freedom Friedrich Meinecke functionally rational fundamental German gradually groups human nature important impulses individual influence insecurity institutions integration intellectual intelligentsia invention irrational irrationality Lasswell Leipzig level of inventive liberal London mass society Max Weber means methods mind modern society moral object observed organization outlook planned society point of view political possible present principia media principle problem proletariat propaganda psychological question realize regulation sciences scientific selection sense situation social classes social control social mechanism social order social process social structure social technique sociological sphere spontaneous stage symbols tendencies thinking thought tion to-day totalitarian tradition transformation Tübingen whole York