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On Georg
Heinz-J?rgen
Guy
Oakes
Simmers Sociology
of the Sexes*
Dahme
has
once
again
a very
presented
interesting
and
in his lifetime,
Even
of Simmel
universal
the works
gave
approval.
rise to intense
controversies.
In his extensive
Oakes
and informative
introduction,
provides
some first hints for a critical
of the theses
and
discussion
reception
Simmel
advances
by Guy
Oakes
in the essays
under review. The essays
to the late phase
of Simmel's
all belong
collected
thought,1
ideas Simmel
of life. As Oakes
out, some of the central
puts
points
In any case,
in these writings
derive from his earlier work.
forward
in his
of Simmel's
later works,
it is characteristic
that,
writing
treats
he takes up earlier
them
from
another
perspective,
insights,
in the light
to re-examination,
and defends
them
them
subjects
This
theories
of new arguments.
is not to say that Simmel's
exhibit
or no contradictions.
no breaks
we
of any
should
be
wary
Indeed,
an
to
of
of
overall
Simmel's
psychology
attempt
picture
provide
or his sociology
women
of the relationship
between
the sexes merely
on the basis
1890 and 1918,
of the writings
under review. Between
on these topics,
some of them rather
wrote
fifteen
articles
contexts
in various
and they
These
articles were written
extensive.
a
not
form
to
of
his
do
different
coherent,
work;
they
belong
periods
Simmel
serious
consideration
theoretical
system
1985). Any
(cf. Simmel,
a
a
to provide
must
the
classic
resist
of
temptation
sociological
on
a
an
work
of
the
basis
of
author
uniform
single
interpretation
or single period of work. Nor can the complete
of an author
works
a coherent
of theory.
If we
to constitute
be taken
body
always
as
to
is
classics
this
intellectual
the
apt
heroes,
prevent
stylize
*
A discussion
of the work
of Georg
into English
of On Women,
Sexuality,
1984.
Society
Politics, Culture, and
Volume 1,Number 3, Spring 1988
occasioned
Simmel
translation
by Guy Oakes'
and Love, New Haven,
Yale University
Press,
412 ?
1988
Human
Sciences Press
413
Dahme
Heinz-J?rgen
of sociology
with
them. The
classics
confrontation
any fruitful
but
from a present-day
should not only be interpreted
perspective,
context.
In other words:
also investigated
in their historical
It is
or "recontextualization"
a re-embedding
to undertake
necessary
and theories.
(Luhmann
1981, p. 258) of their assertions
one
a
is always
classical
When
with
faced with
text,
dealing
a hermeneutic
to
One
this
is to
way
problem.
approach
problem
to
context
understand
the
author
from
the
scientific
and
attempt
a
of
social milieu
the time. Merely
classical
author,
interpreting
into a language
that
his work
that
is
is, simply
translating
to the present-day
does not suffice,
since
this
reader,
intelligible
more often than not reduces complexity.
The historical
examination
of a
classical
author
should
the other way
round:
by
proceed
re-contextualization.
This means
through
increasing
complexity
a larger bulk of material.
that the reader must manage
The reader
not only has
to read the original
text, but also the introduction
on the genesis
to the translation,
notes
the editor's
of the text,
on which
sources
and the various
the text builds. Strictly
speaking,
this process
of interpretation
has no definitive
conclusion.
In his
to the book
introduction
under
Oakes
has
review,
to scrutinize
undertaken
Simmel's
On Women,
essays
Sexuality,
in the light of concurrent
and Love
theoretical
of the
approaches
to compare
time and
with
Simmel's
feminism
the liberal
and
of women's
socialist
theories
status
in society. As a result, Simmel's
to grasp.
feminism
is easier
I myself
should
like to continue
along
these lines and add some more
the late
by contrasting
complexity
women
of the relationship
Simmel's
between
and society
theory
or between
women
and culture with his early sociological
analyses
of this problematic.
This will shed some light on a hitherto
neglected
on the topic, namely
of Simmel's
his evolutionary
aspect
writing
approach
I should
for explaining
like the reader
the relations
the sexes.
between
to allow me a brief excursus.
But
first
II
social
theories were all concerned
European
and
economic
of the French
consequences
the industrial
revolution.
One
of the themes
was
the
in
science
social
the
discussion
labor question.
dominating
was
Another
theme
the
the
predominant
question
concerning
women.
woman
of
social
and
The
political,
economic,
equality
was
taken
in early
up and
question
investigated
scientifically
Nineteenth-century
with
the social
Revolution
and
French
socialism,
in particular,
in Charles
Fourier
(1808);
in
414
Marxism,
especially in Friedrich Engels
(1884), August Bebel
in
and
Karl
and
(1879),
Kautsky (1882);
Liberalism, for instance,
in John Stuart Mill (1869). In German social theory of the mid
the emancipation
nineteenth-century,
antithetical
the
Thus,
viewpoints.
of women
liberal
was
Lorenz
discussed
von Stein
from
(1852,
some
specific
the
Riehl
domains,
while
conservative
Heinrich
Wilhelm
the
relations
As
ethnology.
in archaic
societies
horizons
up
opened
anthro?
by
collected
a sociological
from
and
interpreted
ethnologists
now
a
was
to
it
universal
develop
theory by
perspective,
possible
was
method.
This
the comparative
theory
mainly
employing
between
of the relationship
the sexes.
concerned
with
the evolution
and
with
its social,
The woman
economic,
political
question,
was of only
of modern
dimensions
that are characteristic
societies,
an object
concern. When
status
of women
became
minor
the social
pologists
and
the framework
of
of discussion,
in general
this took place within
sexes.
an evolutionary
of
This
the
evolutionary
sociology
sociology
a unilinear
to reconstruct
of the sexes
developmental
sought
an evolutionary
of the different
forms of marriage
sequence
process:
of the relations
forms
and
the family
and the specific
held that
scholars
the sexes. Using
schematisms,
binary
and so
had preceded monogamy,
matriarchy
patriarchy,
not until
that
this
the late nineteenth
century
theory
criticism
and was finally
(cf. Westermarck
rejected
thorough
with
the topic, Herbert
the sociologists
dealing
Among
of the relations
between
the sexes, was
with
his theory
In
the most
influential.
Sociology
(1876), he investigated
of women
changes
to industrial
society
connexion
is there
social organization?"
available
material
between
militancy
in the
the
first
course
volume
of his
the question
between
polygamy
on. It was
met
with
1891).
Spencer,
probably
of
Principles
from military
"What
asked:
(1876, p. 722)
society.
Spencer
of women
and the type of
the status
between
historical
On the basis of the ethnologicaLand
associations
to him,
"natural
he perceives
and
industrialism
and between
and polygamy
of the
transition
415
Heinz-J?rgen Dahme
of the sexes"
psychology
"comparative
(Spencer
1873,
p. 369)
that
deals with the physical and psychic differences between men and
women.
to the
in the "adaption
These differences
originate
In
and maternal
duties"
this
context,
1873, p. 369).
(Spencer
also advances
the traditional
phrenological
argument
in size, which
brain
is smaller
female
the more
explains
women.
of
in
abstraction
powers
The psychic
between
differences
the sexes
that Spencer,
paternal
Spencer
that
the
modest
partly
as both anthropological
views
traits
and
contradicting
himself,
of
of
behavior.
products
generate
patterns
evolution,
sex-specific
of these behavior
Some
to please,"
such as "the ability
patterns
"the concomitant
love of approbation"
(1873, p. 371), "the arts of
as well.
to be found
in men
persuasion"
(p. 372) are certainly
in women.
holds
that
However,
they are more marked
Spencer
women
at the stage when
these strategies
of behavior
developed
as the weaker
sex lived
societies
and women
predominated
military
"on the mercy
of men."
On the basis
of his psychology
of women,
also decides
Spencer
the question
of the influence
in shaping
of women
In his
society.
Social Statics
equality
of
Subsequently,
changes
sexes:
however,
radically.
"Equity
his view
knows
on the
In his Principles
no
defends
difference
emancipation
of Ethics
the
of sex."
of women
he still advocates
in the household
and the economy
but he emphatically
equality
on the ground
the political
of women
that they
rejects
equality
do not take part in military
service.
It is the duty to die for their
that ensures men alone the right to political
country
participation,
(cf. Gray
1984).
Ill
Thus
the
pertaining
sexes was
frame
to the
for
treatment
of questions
sociological
of women
and the relations
between
the
traced out when
Simmel
confronted
this
Georg
time in 1890 as a thirty-two-year-old
in
lecturer
status
already
for the first
A social-structural
philosophy.
of women
is an integral
part
topic
the allegedly
the discussion
explanation
of sociological
of women
psyche
of the
social position
And
argumentation.
a part in
also plays
differential
of the emancipation
of women.
The basic
of Georg
Simmel's
and sociology
concept
philosophy
is 'interaction.'
Thus
the idea of applying
this concept
to the most
form of sociation,
man
the relationship
between
and
elementary
would
to suggest
itself. In fact, Simmel
dealt with
woman,
appear
416
between
the sexes at an early point in his scholarly
on the subject
were
of his writings
published
never
in
and
he
socialist
anonymously
journals,
subsequently
abandoned
this
Until
his
however,
topic.
recently,
completely
on
a
sexes
and
of
the
had
extensive
sociology
writings
philosophy
of Simmel's
fallen
and even students
work
into oblivion,
virtually
the interaction
some
career;
to them.2
paid only scant attention
to
interest
In addition
the intrinsic
contain
writings,
they
also
multifarious
of Simmel's
range
psychological,
of these
On the basis
interests.
and philosophical
one can trace Simmel's
from folk
intellectual
development
the whole
sociological,
writings,
of these
psychology
is hardly
of life. There
any other
topic in Simmel's
metaphysics
over three decades
in such
work
his development
that illustrates
on women
can also be
a condensed
form. Therefore,
his writings
in 'miniature.'
works
read as his complete
of sociation.
is concerned
with
the forms
Simmel's
sociology
and
'Formal
such
sphere, marriage
is to extract
Sociology'
family.
forms
This
aim
implies
that the
of his sociology.
element
is a constitutive
perspective
comparative
on
of social
the
focuses
Since
Simmel's
life,
dynamics
sociology
are
forms
of
social
dissolution
and
the emergence,
development,
or
interaction
of
central
systems
Simple
investigation.
objects
serve as a basis
as a whole may
for such investigations,
thus also include an evolutionary
perspective.
Simmel
scientific
such a strictly
from developing
Aside
sociology,
as well.
was
and aesthetic
concerned
with philosophical
problems
as his
as well
in his work
treated
the scope of the themes
Both
society
which
417
Heinz-J?rgen Dahme
intellectual
philosophical
development
writings
to this.
testify
are concerned
with
Both
his
scientific
the problem
and
of modernity
and the transitory character of the present (cf. Frisby 1985). Such
a
concern
cannot
center
of historical
documentation
valuations.
on the gathering
and
exclusively
and
facts.
It requires
commitments
to
exclude
value
proposed
judgments
as well.
later adopted
by Max Weber
Simmel
However,
of a position
the domain
examines
Simmel
social
always
of a value
the background
against
from
moves
within
understanding
as a special
reality
both
The
of modernity,
the
interpretation
spheres.
of the present,
and the establishment
of sociology
are his major
concerns.
science
IV
In the early 1890s, when
to elaborate
Simmel
his program
began
on
of formal
his
interest
focused
of the social
sociology,
questions
status of women
and the relationship
between
the sexes. The family
and the relations
between
the sexes served him as perfect
examples
for testing
his new approach
to sociology.
In his treatment
of the
the influence
of Spencer
could be overlooked.
The problems
subject,
as well
as the evolutionary
are
Spencer
posed
perspective
constitutive
for Simmel's
of
the
of
status
of
the
analysis
problem
women
and the relations
the sexes.
between
also adopts
Simmel
thesis
the connection
between
Spencer's
concerning
military
in a society
tendencies
and the inferior
status
of women
social
Simmel
does not
(cf. Simmel
1894). Unlike
Spencer,
however,
a unilinear
an
toward
of the
perceive
development
improvement
status
social
of women.
he
believes
that
Rather,
evolutionarily
are likely to become
advanced
societies
"highly misogynie"
again
tendencies.
and
the concomitant
functional
changes
in housework
418
reversed
the
industrialization
their
progress
hypothesized
the status
debased
Thus
by Spencer.
capitalist
of women
and compromised
social
recognition.
believed
that
all nineteenth-century
evolutionists,
Spencer
and
forms of marriage
like the various
of the sexes,
the relations
a
were
to
law.
and
the family,
subject
Polygamy
developmental
as
were
the
first
form of society
the matrilineal
stages
regarded
in ethnographic
With
of social
evolution.
the increase
knowledge,
had become
of evolutionary
thesis
this central
sociology
however,
was
now
It
held that
nineteenth
the
late
century.
by
questionable
Like
the various
Unlike
forms
of marriage
no
Simmel
and
the family
believed
side by side.6
and
promiscuity
existed
that
longer
of the relations
forms
earliest
the evolutionarily
sexes.
evidence
In
available
the
his
the
view,
empirical
lower
certain
that man,
like
the conclusion
rather suggests
species,
of relationships,
"and fell into looseness
is monogamous
by nature
of particular
and polygyny
into polyandry
only as a consequence
can be found
in all domains
to modify
and
which
circumstances
polygamy
between
Spencer,
were
inclinations"
natural
p. 123). Simmel
1895a,
(Simmel
form of
cannot
be the "typical
out that polygyny
points
an equal
reason
is always
there
that
for the simple
marriage"
cases of polygyny
the known
of the sexes. Moreover,
distribution
over
a
who
wife
that there is in general
show
presides
principal
are
often
who
the subsidiary
and to whom
the household
wives,
that
are subordinate.
From
the fact
work
functions,
assigned
one
can
earlier
at
existed
forms of marriage
different
merely
times,
as a result of specific
infer that these types of marriage
developed
conditions.
under these specific
conditions
and were functional
mislead
further
419
Heinz-J?rgen Dahme
To explain
forms of the family.
monogamous
of the father in the family, Simmel,
again without
on Lewis Morgan
and Friedrich
draws
Engels:
later
the
citing
in all probability,
is connected with
This development,
of property. When men
of the private
ownership
and
extensive
property
through working
personal
to transmit
it to heirs of their own blood. I
wished
heirs
goods to consanguinous
concept of transmitting
from the concept of inheriting
did
Paternity
goods.
much as long as it was not bound up with considerable
with respect to property. (Simmel 1895a, p. 127)
his
inclusion
sources,
the emergence
had acquired
fighting,
they
think that the
. . . developed
so
not matter
consequences
a functionalist
explanation
provides
has
He
that monogamy
of monogamy.
of the prevalence
argues
it
entailed
because
form
of marriage
the predominant
become
In the same
evolutionary
Simmel
context,
advantages.
also
an anthropological
he comes
arguments,
could
phenomenon
to marriage
transition
late phenomenon
the perspective
of
his
invariant.
evolutionary
Following
to the conclusion
that love as a psychological
come
into
the
existence
have
only with
Thus
love is an evolutionarily
by purchase.
1895a,
1898). Simmel
(cf. Simmel
of value?which
the psychology
any
purchase
that
presupposes
involves
a price
of Money
sacrifices.
be paid.
The
However,
from
argues
later he will
(1900)?and maintains
of property
acquisition
for which
the object
420
love becomes
increasingly
proceeds,
the
is aroused
by
particular.
individualistic;
that
and became
the basis
of monogamous
of marriage.7
marriage
developed
further
V
of modernity,
Simmel
became
and philosopher
As a sociologist
aware
of the importance
of the woman
question
quite early in his
career. He saw it as a result of two processes:
which
modernization,
in
the
the
mid-nineteenth
and
in Germany
century;
changes
began
that occurred
after the foundation
in economic
and social conditions
in
to
also
that
led
of the Empire,
major
changes
developments
did not affect
these changes
of women.
the social position
However,
social strata in the same way. For middle-class
the different
women,
a functional
in the traditional
role of
loss
Simmel
diagnoses
as a consequence
of ongoing
industrialization
and the
housewife
in the availability
of consumer
immense
increase
goods. As a result
use of machines
in the household
and the larger
of the increased
on the market
in the late nineteenth
available
number
of goods
women
to look for activities
and
middle-class
began
century,
were
and
them
denied
law
the
home
that
outside
by
occupations
the current
social
conventions.
Heinz-J?rgen
421
Dahme
For
from
the lower
the modern
classes,
upheavals
of an insufficient
Because
problems.
family
income,
women
were
as
to
forced
work
outside
the
home
working-class
or domestic
servants.
to an extreme
workers
This
leads
factory
for working-class
double
burden
had to labor both
who
women,
at home and at work. As a result of their work
outside
the home,
involved
other
they could not adequately fulfill their duties in the home, especially
in the rearing
and care of children.
The relatively
early entry into
the
and
the
double
burden
had
life,
working
hours,
long working
on the health
a negative
women.
effect
of working-class
The
forced
to pursue
they were
employment
by economic
necessity
removed
from:
them
. . . their natural
The young girl goes into the factory
profession.
at an age when she still needs parental protection. The work in the
woman
the married
from fulfilling
her
factory not only prevents
immediate
duties in relation to her home and her children, but it
to give birth to healthy
also entails
that her ability
is
offspring
Thus
the
economic
of the proletarian woman
impaired.
independence
turns out to be a source of the greatest
evils, not only to her but
also
to
society.
legislation.
Therefore,
(Simmel
the
question
is
to provide
for
protective
1896, p. 136)
These
women
the feminist
137). However,
itself as a uniform movement,
movement
which
as such
is illustrated
did
not
by the
between
the members
of its two wings.
the woman
and
the
connected
question
problems
with
of
modern
life
others.
As
among
many
tendency
a theorist
and interpreter
of modernity,
returns
to
he frequently
in his journal articles.8
these issues
In his 'formal sociology,'
Simmel
considers
the woman
question
Simmel
controversies
views
it as one
and
the women's
movement
from the perspective
of differentiation
as
one
He
views
them
of
the process
theory.
example
that was
differentiation
initiated
and made
by modernity.
possible
of
422
A formerly
circle whose members
abstract
shared a common
feature
into a concrete
interest
is now differentiated
Thus
organization.
were
who
into various
workers
divided
crafts
and
defined
were not able to conceive
via their respective
themselves
activities,
as a concrete
until industrialization
and
themselves
entity
organize
as abstract
them aware
made
that they shared
that
characteristic:
of being
movement
also is the result
The feminist
'wage-laborers.'
in their homes
of a differentiation
Women
isolated
process.
formerly
came
one common
to see that they shared
characteristic:
their
contrast
movement
to men. However,
unlike
the labor movement,
is an evolutionarily
improbable
development.
the women's
of
circle
from
the abstract
that
the
improbability
as a group would
women
differentiated
prove
capable
"women",
as a result
of
into probability
of organizing.
This
changed
of household
in a dissolution
which
resulted
industrialization,
of the traditional
role of
definition
structures
and a more narrow
Consider
423
Heinz-Jiir?en Dahme
VI
movement
to the demands
is receptive
of the women's
Simmel
a critical
to the
In contrast
stance.
maintains
but nonetheless
more
for
hitherto
advocated
which
feminist
movement,
rights
as early as 1902 raised
women
of the
the question
only, Simmel
of this
cultural
and
significance
supersocial
"superpersonal
as a
movement"
1902, p. 159). He asks whether
(Simmel
society
and hence men as well, might
profit from the emancipation
whole,
on the subject,
in which
In his reflections
his "psychology
of women.
of women"
central
also plays a part, Simmel
arguments
anticipates
of a 'feminist
theory of society.'
In the previous
of societal
all objective
history
development,
rare exceptions?are
of male
cultural
achievements?with
origin.
It is men who have
their stamp on culture
and society.
impressed
and many
other fields are male
trade, science,
Industry,
religion,
creations
which
male
for their
powers
"require
specifically
execution"
1902, p. 161; 1984, pp. 67
(Simmel
invariably
repeated
created
world
is a highly
social
and
cultural
The
8).
by men
differentiated
in contrast
an internal
on specialization.
For Simmel,
based
man,
system
in both
to woman,
is "the being
that is determined,
and external
of labor"
sense,
by and for the division
of modern
society into
in the psychic
and social
roles
is reflected
various
subsystems
on
is geared
to concentrate
of man.
The male
features
psyche
individual
achievements."
This
of
man's
and "rather one-sided
part
from his
entire
is separated
"so that
personality
personality
and
activities
subjective
personality
each, as
practical-specialist
it were,
live a life of their own" (Simmel
cf.
also
1902, p. 162;
1984,
on the division
in a world
of labor,
the
based
p. 70). However,
no
it
of
role
conflict
arises.
is
problem
Furthermore,
longer possible
to ascribe
on
to the individual
achievement
person.
specific
Systems
a dynamics
the division
of labor develop
of their own.
as an objective
confront
force with
the individual
rules and
They
norms
to
of its own. In such a system,
is reduced
the individual
with his or her personality
of a role incumbant,
the function
staying
outside.
of labor could not be
The world
by the division
produced
a psychic
mechanism
tolerated
unless
by men
they developed
a
to
of
draw
line
them
the require?
between
separation
enabling
on
ments
their
them
by
imposed
occupational
roles, on the one
on
the
other.
Like
of his
and
their
many
hand,
life,
private
women
have
Simmel
believes
that
contemporaries,
psychic
that differ from those of men. As a result, they cannot
dispositions
based
424
world
of work
unless
learn to behave
they
wonders
whether
this is desirable.
Simmel
is a qualitative
difference
between
that there
Simmel
of his
this idea in the different
the sexes. He advances
fragments
as the "less differentiated
He views women
of women.'9
'psychology
women
in both psychic
and intellectual
respects.
However,
being"
as
such
female
have
emotionality,
spontaneity,
qualities
specific
views
Simmel
them from men.
that differentiate
and sensitiveness
in the male
succeed
like men.
However,
believes
of women
individuality
psychic
same
are
to
not
involved
the
they
the
as
extent
a result
of the fact that
as men
in the modern
of the
female
to be
appears
psyche
an anthropological
he is well aware
of the female nature,
definition
is a result of historical
and
the sexes
between
that this difference
of
In the light of his
circumstances.
social
women,'
'psychology
to women
for opening
demand
the feminist
up the professions
norms.
to male
must
that women
Although
adapt
simply means
Although,
as
at first sight,
'more uniform'
Simmel's
characterization
'more self-contained'
and
for women,
training
a
or
to
exercise
trade
them
enable
which
would
women
to achieve
for
is essential
equal status and equal
profession,
to
this as a transitional
he regards
stage. For women
treatment,
of
to
the
increase
and
their
contribute
abilities
deploy
completely
and
that they go their own ways
it is necessary
culture,
objective
in this way can women
make
of their own. Only
create occupations
Simmel
holds
that
and
education
vocational
on a
carry
of the women's
The
aim
culture.
to
the
"female
be
gain
help
principle"
movement,
"lack of differentiation"
The female
recognition
of
deficiency
1890, p. 28; 1984, p. 148) is not a personal
(Simmel
women
a
female
that
rather
but
women,
qualifies
property
positive
as the "more uniform
and more
1904,
(Simmel
beings"
complete
to culture
that men
contributions
p. 179) for making
specific
cannot make.
more
are the psychically
uniform
that women
thesis
Simmel's
a
than
rather
is
and complete
metaphysical
speculation
beings
seems
to
be
His
view
of
scientific
the result
primarily
analysis.
an
of woman.
function
mediated
However,
by the biological
contribution
to
objective
should
therefore,
and prevalence.
is
of the female
psyche
description
like
all
of
Language,
language.
by problems
impeded
primarily
is of male
of formation
and expression,"
other "modes
origin and
of
with
the
to the needs
men,
consequence
that, when
adapted
are
we want
there
countless
to grasp
the "differentially
female,
no
on
and
is
which
there simply
occasions
intelligible
satisfactory
adequate
expression"
consideration
(Simmel
and
1984,
p. 148).10
425
Dahme
Heinz-J?rgen
questions
between
relations
cannot
the
be
sexes,
questions.11
clear-cut
provide
it can do at best
eliminated
their
about
the
thought
cannot
be dismissed
However,
philosophy
and definitive
solutions
is furnish
from
discussion
cannot
to these
be
to
expected
What
problems.
interpretations.
VII
one can say that Georg
In conclusion
Simmel's
of
'sociology
women
and the relationship
between
the sexes'
is anything
but
a coherent
On the one hand,
is sensitive
to the
Simmel
theory.
of the present.
tendencies
On the other, he follows
contemporary
on the
fashions.
His
and psychological
works
early
sociological
are
influenced
of
differenti?
subject
strongly
by Spencer's
theory
ation
and Darwin's
Some commentators
have
theory of evolution.
to
these
influences.
The
of
and
already
pointed
impact
Spencer
on
Darwin
is especially
women.
clear in Simmel's
early writings
Even
of Darwin
were
and Spencer
prior to 1890, the works
very
in Germany,
influential
not
in
academic
although
philosophy,
own
Simmel's
Academic
its main
and
discipline.
philosophy
took a rather negative
stance
towards
the evolutionary
proponents
The collectivist
of the latter was inconsistent
approach
of
German
academic
subject-centered
approach
philo?
of
this
tradition
of thought
sophy. Simmel's
appropriation
English
him an outsider
thus made
in German
academic
philosophy.
We can also identify
the use of some building
blocks
of socialist
perspective.
with
the
in Simmel's
Socialist
theories
found their way
theory
early works.
into German
in
the
when
the
German
Social
years
sociology
however
Democrats,
only for the small circle of reformers
for the revolutionary
When
the liberalism
of the
wing.
was
a
1890s
conservative
climate
and
early
superseded
by
strictly
the
in
socialist
elements
Simmel's
After
politics,
writings
disappear.
in German
socialist
1895, not one article
by Simmel
appeared
and
not
426
It is in this period
that Simmel's
which
journals.
aestheticism,
is often declared
to be a constitutive
of his work, develops.
element
But this aestheticism
is not a genuinely
Simmelian
invention
either,
but rather an expression
of the spirit of the times. The same applies
to Simmel's
cultural
criticism
and cultural
can
which
pessimism,
be discerned
in his writings
after 1900.
In many
a child of his time. However,
is clearly
Simmel
respects,
as well as the theoretical
both his analyses
of the present
constructs
he developed
in confrontation
with
current
and trends are
theories
often
remarkable
for their
innovative
and
quality
sensitivity.
Simmel's
new
in things
aspects
already
on women
and the relationship
in his writings
is apparent
between
the sexes
translated
by
to show that these features
have
endeavored
on the topic. But
in Simmel's
early writings
Oakes.
I myself
can be found
I hope
it has become
clear
are
different
writings
quite
Guy
also
known
that Simmel's
from those
interests
in these
early
late writings,
and
that his early analyses
do not always
the same conclusions
support
as his later work.
In this connection,
I just should
like to draw
to Simmel's
attention
of
love
in his early
evolutionary
explanation
as
it
and
of
the same
definition
were, anthropological
his,
writings
in
his
late
phenomenon
writings.
no doubt
an important
The
will
translations
by Oakes
give
to
the
discussion
feminist
researchers
and students
among
impulse
am
of Simmel.
not
I
in a position
As to the feminist
movement,
to offer a well-informed
to
with
its
of
respect
judgment
reception
Simmel.
in his
To
will
Simmel
these
translations
students,
surely be of
With
his
has
Oakes
the
translations,
given
English
the first building
for the assessment
blocks
of a
speaking
public
in
Simmel's
work.
From
dimension
my
"neglected"
perspective,
on women
it would
if Simmel's
be desirable
also
early writings
soon. This would make
a
found a translator
reconstruction
possible
interest.
of Simmel's
of women
from the context
of his complete
picture
In my opinion,
Simmel's
are, on the whole,
early writings
and
Thus
very
illuminating.
far, however,
they have
interesting
are
of
to
been
interest
analyzed.
Moreover,
they
scarcely
special
sources
for two reasons.
of Simmel
students
the
from
which
First,
are more
in his
Simmel
draws
evident
than
early
writings
works.
And
1900
the work Simmel
before
second,
subsequently.
published
he
treat
at
in
contains
does
not
either
all
his
later
many
aspects
or discusses
works
form. These
aspects
only in a rather disguised
mark
turns
in
of his
Simmel's
the
career,
development
important
some
of
of
main
For
and
the
his
themes.
these
reasons,
work,
genesis
a publication
of a selection
of Simmel's
in the not
early writings
427
Heinz-J?rgen Dahme
be
Such a collection
future would
be welcome.
might
to Simmel
to
not only
but
also
scholars
interest
students,
to the increasing
of sociology
and
concerned
with
the history
of researchers
of the
the
intellectual
number
history
investigating
late nineteenth
century.
too-distant
of
Reference
Notes
on the differentiation
In the discussion
the discipline,
Simmel's
within
writings
of sex roles and the emancipation
of women,
the hint given
despite
by Naegele
an elaborated
as early
as 1958 that Simmel's
would
work
contain
'sociology
of women,'
It is only through
unnoticed.
Coser's
have
gone
stimulating
largely
p.
concept."
4. Cf. Dahme
pp.
(1984,
84),
who
219-21).
of this dimension
calls
sociology
positivistic
Simmel's
in Simmel's
earliest
statement
thought slowly
"gigantic
on
dream
value-freedom
so the moral
not confuse
the dissecting
should
the study
table,
philosopher
of moral
with
their moral
valuation.
The
fact that here
the value
phenomena
as his object
content
the same general
the researcher
makes,
judgment
displays
of research
this
renders
conflation
of explanation
and normative
valuation
it is especially
understandable.
this fact that entails
However,
psychologically
is all the more
that a more
refined
and differentiated
methodology
compelled
to separate
the scientific
task?which
the impartial
of realities
statement
implies
or hypothetical?from
that are exclusively
the normative
empirical
task, which
the practical,
and thus
of reality"
(1892
implies
invariably
one-sided,
shaping
as a proponent
of the postulate
of value-freedom,
93), vol. II, p. V). On Simmel
cf. Brecht
(1959, pp. 216-18).
2 of his "Problems
5. Cf., for example,
Simmel
of the
p. 59) and chapter
(1895b,
Philosophy
of History"
(1977).
on sociological
for instance,
Eduard
In his writings
Westermarck
See,
(1891).
on the German
of the family,
Simmel
often
draws
translation
of
aspects
Westermarck's
him.
work, without,
however,
citing
on the philosophy
7. In Simmel's
later works
of life, which
also deal with
aspects
of the
between
the
the
that
sexes,
evolutionary
relationship
perspective
in his
into the background.
recedes
predominates
early
sociological
writings
In this
late work,
out of love"
"action
as a
(Simmel
1984, p. 154) is viewed
6.
in man
that is inherent
and merely
needs
timeless,
anthropological
potentiality
or kindled.
to be aroused
to "sexual
as a "proto-form
His
reference
attraction"
of love"
his
treatment
of the same
(Simmel
1984, p. 166) recalls
early
topic
in terms
of differentiation
In his
late philosophy,
Simmel
love
theory.
regards
as a "psychical
between
the sexes
nor
can
act that
cannot
be analyzed,"
it
as a consequence
be "understood
of any combination
of other elements"
(Simmel
nor altruistically
sees love as neither
late Simmel
1984, p. 157). The
egoistically
but as something
"third."
motivated,
'psychology
1892b, 1899,1902a).
of women'
is contained
in Simmel
(1890,1904,1907,1984,
133-52).
428
10.
In Simmel's
and
its logical
opinion,
language
categories
by their very nature
lend themselves
so often
of generalities.
who
only to the consideration
Simmel,
a philosophy
of social
stressed
the tragedy
and cultural
to accept
life, also seems
a 'tragedy
of language
that
entails
of language.'
This
holds
true especially
for his view
of a "failure
of language"
to characterize
due to its inability
the
of individuality.
For an early
formulation
of Simmel's
of the
problem
theory
"failure
of language,"
cf. his Philosophie
des Geldes
See
(1900, pp. 534-35).
danger,
readily
root of
a layer
least
is reached
where
is the one
this layer
silence?for
is fed." For Simmel's
philosophy
here
at
command
itself
logic
Simmel's
do not
difficulties
the metaphysical
cf. Christian
language,
logical
on which
of
delimitation
of
from
science
274-83,
philosophy,
cf. Dahme
(1981,
fulfills with
pp.
respect
as follows:
to sociology
is explained
"The
by Simmel
unsatisfactory
feeling
one is left in view
to which
nature
of the fragmentary
of all knowledge
and
one
soon
can be empirically
that
reaches
of what
the fact
the boundaries
and proved,
ascertained
leads one to overcome
these
imperfections
by the means
of speculation.
This means
discrete
elements
of those
a uniform
overall
picture.
to our degree
of knowledge,
also
serves
our
that
are not
of transforming
need
the
parallel
one another
into
connected
with
from
this
function
of metaphysics
directed
Apart
a second
to another
is oriented
function
dimension
of our existence,
in which
lies the metaphysical
of its contents:
significance
or end, as the absolute
as the meaning
We
this function
describe
substance
as
or religious
the
of appearance,
amidst
and
also
the value
relativity
of delimitation"
SimmePs
significance"
(1908, p. 20). This
"problem
pervades
entire work
vol.
(e.g. 1892, pp. 60-3,
103-4;
1892-93,
I, pp. 318, 338, 446; 1900,
p. V; 1917, p. 31; 1918, p. 30; 1977, pp. 118-21).
realms
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