Aristotle and Kant in Classical Social Theory

FAIN: FB-52736-06

George Edward McCarthy
Kenyon College (Gambier, OH 43022-5020)

This work examines the two major philosophical traditions that gave birth to modern social theory in the nineteenth century. The central focus is on the writings of Aristotle and Kant, and how they influenced the theories of Marx, Weber, and Durkheim. Classical social theory was born of a conversation between traditions -- between the ancients and the moderns. It was formed by an integration of Aristotle's theory of science and politics and Kant's theory of subjectivity, representation, and epistemological constructivism. Both traditions challenged the general philosophical assumptions of the Enlightenment and offered alternative views of social theory, methods, and historical interpretation.

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