By Ken Smith; et al

By Scott Lash

This authoritative and revealing e-book offers the 1st sociological exam of postmodernism. Lash examines the variations betweeen modernism and postmodernism, offering a transparent clarification of why postmodernism is critical. This publication will be of curiosity to scholars of sociology, communications, philosophy, visible arts, and glossy languages.

By Bernard Stiegler

Bernard Stiegler’s paintings at the intimate kinfolk among the human and the technical have made him the most very important voices to have emerged in French philosophy within the final decade. even as either an available summation of that paintings and a continuation of it, The Re-Enchantment of the World advances a critique of customer capitalism that attracts on Freud and Marx to build an totally modern research of our time. The publication explores the cognitive, affective, social and financial results of the ‘proletarianization’ of the patron in past due capitalism and the ensuing destruction of the consumer’s savoir-vivre. Reflecting the collective paintings of his activist corporation, Ars Industrialis, Stiegler the following units forth another route to that of ‘industrial populism’, person who appeals to the strength of the human spirit.

The Re-Enchantment of the World additionally comprises the manifesto of Ars Industrialis and an account of the organisation’s 2005 summit in Tunis.

“Expounding and constructing the paintings of his imagine tank and strain crew, Ars Industrialis, this e-book deals a close-up of Stiegler’s philosophy in its engagement with our modern global. Exposing the poisonous short-termism of our runaway economics, Stiegler bargains us another: the repurposing of applied sciences of keep watch over and intake in the direction of an economic climate of contribution. His analyses ring profoundly precise, and his urgency is unheard of: this can be a undertaking we won't have the funds for to ignore.” —Martin Crowley, Reader in sleek French concept and tradition, Queens’ collage, college of Cambridge, UK

“Stiegler bargains penetrating philosophical analyses of our modern info society and of the commercial version of customer capitalism that underpins it. He writes with an urgency and imaginative and prescient that demanding situations us to reclaim our freedom and data and to recreate an international that might now not be subordinated to the exigencies of intake, creation and unlimited development. Stiegler tells us that there could be in a different way and that there are futures which might be diversified from the current we now have. His perception and originality make him essentially the most very important and crucial philosophers dwelling and writing today.” —Ian James, Lecturer in French, Downing university, college of Cambridge, UK

“The interventions introduced jointly in The Re-Enchantment of the World paintings fantastically as some extent of access into the more and more vital philosophy of Bernard Stiegler. it's also an important paintings in its personal correct, the main strident instance of present French philosophy’s go back to political activism. Stiegler argues that shopper capitalism is deleteriously eroding the methods of sublimation that provides upward push to wish, resulting in emotional exhaustion, social atomism, apathy and a deadly short-termism. Ars Industrialis bargains not only a critique, yet a therapy for this loss of life. by way of harnessing know-how to generate significant participation, to create an ‘economy of contribution’ instead of emotional exploitation, we will be able to invent ourselves a destiny within which there's a substitute for immiserating acquiescence.” —Dr. Gerald Moore, Director, MA in tradition and distinction, Lecturer in French, tuition of contemporary Languages & Cultures, Durham college, united kingdom

By Sean Sayers

What does Marx suggest by means of 'alienation'? What position does the idea that play in his critique of capitalism and his imaginative and prescient of a destiny society?

Marx and Alienation bargains extensive with one of the most vital philosophical assumptions of Marx's paintings. It units Marx's account of alienation and its overcoming within the context of the Hegelian philosophy from which it derives, and discusses it relating to modern debates and controversies. It demanding situations different fresh money owed of Marx's concept, and indicates that wisdom of Hegel's philosophy is vital for an figuring out of imperative subject matters in Marx's philosophy.

Marx and Alienation explains and discusses Marx's rules in an unique and available style and makes a big contribution to Marxist philosophy.

Review:

'This first-class ebook manages to express, with compelling readability, one of the most profound and nuanced philosophical subject matters; it is helping repair the dialecticity of Marxist proposal via elaborating its Hegelian origins. it's the most sensible publication i've got stumble upon at the Marxist inspiration of 'alienation'.' - Tony McKenna, Marx & Philosophy evaluation of Books

'Sean Sayers' ebook is a powerful try and supply a defence of the Hegelian size of Marx's concept, and during it to protect Marx's idea of alienation.' - Dan Swain, foreign Socialism magazine

'Sayers presents a robust argument for the deep-lying Hegelianism of Marx's idea, sheds new gentle on a few well-trodden parts, and writes in an obtainable variety that a lot Marx scholarship nonetheless lacks. What he proves, specifically else, is that when very much has been written on Hegel-Marx courting, this fashion of imminent Marx's philosophical rules is still the main fertile box of inquiry for Marx scholarship today.' - Jan Kandiyali, Radical Philosophy

By Alex Thomson

Some of the most influential philosophers and cultural theorists of the 20th century, Theodor Adorno poses a substantial problem to scholars. His works can usually look imprecise and impenetrable, really for people with little wisdom of the philosophical traditions on which he attracts. Adorno: A advisor for the at a loss for words is an interesting and obtainable account of his idea that doesn't patronise or short-change the reader. these new to Adorno - and people who have struggled to make headway along with his paintings - will locate this a useful source: basically written, accomplished and particularly keen on simply what makes Adorno tricky to learn and comprehend.

Reviews:

“'Alex Thompson's booklet not just illuminates Adorno's most crucial principles, it makes an unique contribution to modern social theory... The booklet can be of significant clarificatory use for undergraduates, and may supply a lot stimulus to postgraduates and teachers as well.' Darrow Schecter, college of Sussex”

By Theodor W. Adorno

The essays accrued right here supply an research of the irrational dimensions of contemporary tradition that's either well timed and tense within the 1990s.Adorno’s principles are suitable to the knowledge of phenomena as it appears different as astrology and “New Age” cults, the facility of neo-fascist propaganda and the re-emergence of anti-Semitism, and the mental foundation of renowned culture.

The longest essay, “The Stars right down to Earth” bargains a content material research of the astrology column in a Fifties l. a. newspaper.Adorno argues that the column promotes mental dependency and social conformism in a lot a similar approach as fascist propaganda. He continues that an analogous ideas function within the mainstream items of “the tradition industry.” the 3 shorter papers remove darkness from assorted points of Adorno’s argument: the relation of occultism to orthodox smooth inspiration, the pervasiveness of anti-Semitism, and the “psycho-technic” rhetoric of fascist propaganda.

Stephen Crook’s creation significantly stories Adorno’s argument and provides an overview of its modern relevance.

Taken jointly, those essays provide an astringent antidote to any facile optimism in regards to the democratic and pluralist personality of postmodern renowned culture.Adorno identifies an irrationalist dynamic which implicates the main enlightened and emancipated parts of up to date tradition. His unsettling arguments call for the eye of somebody attracted to pop culture, severe thought, racism and authoritarian politics.

Reviews:

From Library Journal
These 4 essays, initially written among the overdue Thirties and mid-1950s, learn major cases of what Adorno calls "irrational" platforms of idea in modern tradition. He analyzes such phenomena as occultism, anti-Semitism, and the connection among anti-Semitism and fascist pondering. His research illustrates universal parts in all of the structures tested. The lead article, "The Stars right down to Earth," is a content material research of the astrology column of the l. a. instances in the course of a trip Adorno made to the USA in 1953; it units the tone for the opposite essays. what's relatively transparent from Adorno's exam is the delicate and manipulative nature of such ideals. The resurgence of utmost non secular and political firms, and the trouble with which definite styles of idea appear to die, illustrates the level to which these principles have penetrated our tradition and the hazards they nonetheless carry. Editor Crook's lead-ins to the essays are helpful. prompt for all collections of the heritage and sociology of up to date tradition and mass movements.
Terry Skeats, Bishop's Univ. Lib., Lennoxville, Quebec

Review
'There is not any query of the modern significance and relevance of those essays. T. W. Adorno is likely one of the nice critics of the position of irrational authoritarianism in modern society.' Douglas Kellner

'This assortment demonstrates the continued relevance of Adorno's paintings to the research and realizing of contemporary instances. an excellent contribution to the sociology of racism, anti-Semitism and renowned culture.' - Bryan S. Turner, co-editor, The Penguin Dictionary of Sociology

'Theodor Adorno returns from the grave to bring this well timed caution concerning the hazards of superstition.' Review

By Erich Fromm

A compendium of Erich Fromm’s popular social conception and philosophy

According to well known psychoanalyst Erich Fromm, 3 humans formed the fundamental personality of the 20th century: Albert Einstein, Karl Marx, and Sigmund Freud. whereas the 1st figures had an excellent actual and political impression at the global, Fromm believes that Freud had an excellent deeper impression, simply because he replaced how we predict approximately ourselves.

Beyond the Chains of Illusion is one in all Fromm’s such a lot autobiographical works, as Fromm not just reviews at the rules of Freud and Marx, but in addition crystallizes his personal theories on social personality and subconscious values. The e-book brilliantly summarizes Fromm’s principles on how tradition and society form our behavior.

This e-book positive aspects an illustrated biography of Erich Fromm together with infrequent photos and never-before-seen records from the author’s property.

By Jürgen Habermas, Thomas McCarthy

A big contribution to modern social thought. not just does it supply a compelling critique of a few of the most views in twentieth century philosophy and social technology, however it additionally offers a scientific synthesis of the numerous themse that have preoccupied Habermas for thirty years. --Times Literary complement

By Alessandro Baricco

From considered one of Italy's most precious literary voices, a manifesto at the kingdom of world tradition and the way connectivity is altering the way in which we event it. For the gatekeepers of conventional excessive tradition, the increase of younger formidable outsiders has certainly appeared like not anything in need of a barbarian invasion. during this concise and strong manifesto, Alessandro Baricco explores a handful of nation-states which have been "plundered"-wine, football, track, and books-and extrapolates that it isn't a case of previous values opposed to new yet a common mutation that we're all a part of, major towards a distinct means of getting studies and growing that means.

By bell hooks

"When ladies party and speak about males, the inside track is nearly regularly undesirable news," writes bell hooks. "If the subject will get particular and the point of interest is on black males, the scoop is even worse."

In this robust new e-book, bell hooks arrests our recognition from the 1st web page. Her title--We genuine Cool; her subject--the approach during which either white society and vulnerable black leaders are failing black males and adolescence. Her topic is taboo: "this is a tradition that doesn't love black males:" "they aren't enjoyed through white males, white ladies, black ladies, women or boys. and particularly, black males don't love themselves. How may well they? How might they be anticipated to like, surrounded via loads envy, hope, and hate?"