tradition, the individual, and culture in American social thought, from Veblen to Mills /
First Statement of Responsibility
Christopher Shannon.
.PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION, ETC
Place of Publication, Distribution, etc.
Baltimore :
Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.
Johns Hopkins University Press,
Date of Publication, Distribution, etc.
1996.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
Specific Material Designation and Extent of Item
xvi, 211 pages ;
Dimensions
24 cm.
SERIES
Series Title
New studies in American intellectual and cultural history
INTERNAL BIBLIOGRAPHIES/INDEXES NOTE
Text of Note
Includes bibliographical references (pages 199-204) and index.
CONTENTS NOTE
Text of Note
Ch. 1. The Perspective of Workmanship -- Ch. 2. Middletown as Transition -- Ch. 3. A New Individualism -- Ch. 4. Patterns of Control -- Ch. 5. Culture for What? -- Ch. 6. The Sociological Imagination.
0
SUMMARY OR ABSTRACT
Text of Note
In Conspicuous Criticism, historian Christopher Shannon argues that the social-scientific critique of American culture, whether liberal or radical, can only reproduce the social relations of bourgeois individualism. He analyzes in depth key works of scholars such as Thorsten Veblen, Robert and Helen Lynd (of Middletown fame), Ruth Benedict, John Dewey, and C. Wright Mills, among others, to demonstrate how American middle-class ideas of progress, individualism, and rationalism became embedded in their critique. These works embody an ideal of reason free from tradition which unites capitalism and its social-scientific critique. The critical attempt to detach oneself from society so as to study it objectively only reinforced the ideal of objective social relations at the heart of the market society itself. Shannon argues that most historical writing on American social sciences has focused on the ways in which intellectuals have used social science to advance particular political agendas. This political focus, he argues, has forced the story of American social science into a narrative of reform and reaction that is incapable of seriously addressing the larger issue of the rational control of society. Shannon concludes that social science research of this sort has perpetuated values of individualism and capitalism which may hinder contemporary America's need to address serious social, economic, and political problems. A thoughtful and provocative alternative history, Conspicuous Criticism will interest scholars in American intellectual history, American studies, and social thought.
OTHER EDITION IN ANOTHER MEDIUM
Title
Conspicuous criticism.
TOPICAL NAME USED AS SUBJECT
Americanists-- History-- 20th century.
Culture-- Study and teaching-- United States-- History-- 20th century.
Individualism-- United States-- History-- 20th century.
Intellectuals-- United States-- History-- 20th century.
Social sciences-- United States-- History-- 20th century.
Social scientists-- United States-- History-- 20th century.
Culture-- history.
Education-- history.
Social Sciences-- history.
Américanistes-- Histoire-- 20e siècle.
Culture-- Étude et enseignement-- États-Unis-- Histoire-- 20e siècle.
Individualisme-- États-Unis-- Histoire-- 20e siècle.
Intellectuels-- États-Unis-- Histoire-- 20e siècle.
Sciences sociales-- États-Unis-- Histoire-- 20e siècle.
Spécialistes des sciences sociales-- États-Unis-- Histoire-- 20e siècle.
Americanists.
Culture-- Study and teaching.
Culture.
Cultuurkritiek.
Education.
Individualism.
Individualism.
Intellectuals.
Social conditions
Social sciences-- United States-- History.
Social sciences.
Social scientists-- United States.
Social scientists.
Social values-- United States.
Sociale wetenschappen.
GEOGRAPHICAL NAME USED AS SUBJECT
United States, Social conditions.
United States, Study and teaching, History, 20th century.
United States, Study and teaching, History, 20th century.
États-Unis, Conditions sociales.
États-Unis, Étude et enseignement, Histoire, 20e siècle.