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This reintroduction to the life and work of Marcel Mauss highlights his coherent and original thought both as an academic and an engaged intellectual of his time. Since his work regained attention in social sciences in the later 20th century, Reintroducing Marcel Mauss also emphasises the progression of research on Mauss's thought, bringing to light various neglected aspects of his scientific project, including his political commitment and writings. With a review of the contemporary research on Mauss's legacy, it offers a fuller understanding of the questions with which he was concerned - questions which converged in the challenge of working out alternative ways for a social life that promotes a genuinely social society inspired by socialist and cooperative values. It will therefore appeal to scholars of sociology and anthropology with interests in the history and development of sociology, and the contemporary importance of classical social theory.
List of contents
Introduction: Rediscovering Marcel Mauss and his Contribution to Today's Social Sciences 1. Mauss, a Durkheimian and a Federating Figure of the French Social Sciences 2. The Law or the Formalisation of the Expression of Pain 3. Sacrifice and the Regulation of Social Crises 4. Magic and Prayer as Forms of Knowledge 5. From Forms of Knowledge to Forms of Social Organisation 6. The Gift or the Dynamics of societal Organisation 7. Social Rhythms: The Body and Technology 8. The Autonomy of Society or the Nation 9. Contemporary Reception Conclusion: Mauss and Us
About the author
Christian Papilloud is a sociologist who teaches at the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg in Germany. Apart from his empirical work, he has authored several books and journal articles on the French and German sociological traditions. These have laid the foundations for his theory of relation and its related methodological framework.
Summary
This book highlights the importance of the sociological innovations of Marcel Mauss – a central figure in the development of the social sciences in France – reflecting on his political commitment to cooperative movements and exploring the enduring relevance of his thought to contemporary societal questions.
