Dr. Werner Binder Spring 2023
Sociological Diagnoses of Our Times
Course
description
Sociological literature, especially in the writings of the classics, often contains a (more or less
explicit) diagnosis of the present time of the author (for example, Weber’s characterization of
modern capitalism as “iron cage”). In the 20th
century, “time diagnosis” emerged as a specific
sociological genre, exemplified by works such as Beck's "Risk Society", Bauman’s “Liquid
Modernity” or Castell's "Network Society". Time diagnoses offer a sociological interpretation
of contemporary society, often with a critical edge and the potential to reach broader
educated audiences beyond the confines of the discipline. This course focuses on recently
published diagnoses of our times, which we will read and discuss in their entirety, limiting
ourselves to one or two monographs per semester.
This year, two recent(ly translated) books by two German sociologists will be at the center of
our attention, which not only offer condensed versions of arguments elaborated in larger
monographs, but also sharpen them towards a critical time diagnosis.
In End of Illusions (2021), Andreas Reckwitz, arguably the most influential sociologist in
contemporary Germany, elaborates on the themes of The Society of Singularities (2020), in
which he argues that cultural processes of “singularization” characterize all fields of
contemporary society, from economy and work to culture, life-style and politics. End of
Illusions (2021) focusses on the social consequences and political challenges, which are the
result of cultural processes of singularization.
Similarly, The Uncontrollability of the World (2020) by Hartmut Rosa, Germany’s leading
critical theorist, is a follow-up to his voluminous monograph Resonance (2019), in which he
develops a sociology of human-world relations. The Uncontrollability of the World (2020)
argues that our modern desire to control the world impedes on our capacity to experience
“resonance”, which Rosa argues is central to having a good life. Good societies, accordingly,
acknowledge the uncontrollability of the world and create opportunities for resonance.
Course
requirements
Regular attendance and participation, eight short response papers, presentation in class or
final essay
ECTS points 5
I (13.2) Organizational Meeting
II (20.2) End of Illusions I – Introduction & Cultural Conflicts as a Struggle over Culture
Required
Readings
Reckwitz, Andreas (2021): The End of Illusions. Politics, Economy, and Culture in Late
Modernity. Cambridge; Medford: Polity. 1-32.
Presentations Introduction to the author; Reckwitz, Andreas (2002): “Toward a Theory of Social Practices. A
Development in Culturalist Theorizing”. In: European Journal of Social Theory 5(2), 243-265.
Reckwitz, Andreas (2020/2017): The Society of Singularities. Cambridge; Medford: Polity. 1-78.
III (27.2) End of Illusions II – From the Leveled Middle-Class Society to the Three-Class Society
Required
Readings
Reckwitz, Andreas (2021): The End of Illusions. Politics, Economy, and Culture in Late
Modernity. Cambridge; Medford: Polity. 33-72.
Presentation Beck, Ulrich (1992): Risk Society. London; Thousand Oaks: Sage.
IV (6.3.) End of Illusions III – Beyond Industrial Society
Required
Readings
Reckwitz, Andreas (2021): The End of Illusions. Politics, Economy, and Culture in Late
Modernity. Cambridge; Medford: Polity. 73-110.
Presentations Reckwitz, Andreas (2020/2017): The Society of Singularities. Cambridge: Polity; Medford. 81-
195.
V (13.3.) End of Illusions IV – The Weariness of Self-Actualization
Required
Reading
Reckwitz, Andreas (2021): The End of Illusions. Politics, Economy, and Culture in Late
Modernity. Cambridge; Medford: Polity. 111-130.
Presentation Reckwitz, Andreas (2020/2017): The Society of Singularities. Cambridge; Medford: Polity. 199-
266
VI (20.3) End of Illusions V – The Crisis of Liberalism and the Search for the New Political Paradigm
Required
Reading
Reckwitz, Andreas (2021): The End of Illusions. Politics, Economy, and Culture in Late
Modernity. Cambridge; Medford: Polity. 131-159.
Presentation Reckwitz, Andreas (2020/2017): The Society of Singularities. Cambridge: Polity. 268-319;
Criticisms of Society of Singularities and End of Illusions
27.3. Reading Week – No Class
Additional
Reading
Alexander, Jeffrey C. (2003/1994): "Modern, Anti, Post, and Neo. How Intellectuals Explain
“Our Time” ". In: Alexander, Jeffrey C. (ed.), The Meanings of Social Life. A Cultural Sociology.
Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 193-228.
VII (3.4) The Uncontrollability of the World I – Controllability and Resonance
Required
Reading
Rosa, Hartmut (2020): The Uncontrollability of the World. Cambridge; New York: Polity. 1-39
Presentation Introduction of the author; Rosa, Hartmut (2019/2016): Resonance. A Sociology of Our
Relationship to the World. Cambridge; Medford: Polity. Introduction + Part I
10.4 Easter Monday – No Class
VIII (17.4) The Uncontrollability of the World II – Theses and Observations on Controllability
Required
Reading
Rosa, Hartmut (2020): The Uncontrollability of the World. Cambridge; New York: Polity. 40-85
Presentation Rosa, Hartmut (2019/2016): Resonance. A Sociology of Our Relationship to the World.
Cambridge; Medford: Polity. Part II-IV
IX (24.4) The Uncontrollability of the World III – Controllability and Modernity
Required
Reading
Rosa, Hartmut Rosa, Hartmut (2020): The Uncontrollability of the World. Cambridge; New
York: Polity. 86-117
Presentation Rosa, Hartmut (2022): “Social Media Filters and Resonances: Democracy and the
Contemporary Public Sphere”. In: Theory, Culture & Society 39(4), 17-35; Criticisms of
Resonance and Uncontrollability of the World
1.5. Labor Day – No Class
8.5. Victory Day – No Class
Requirements
for Passing
the Course
1. Participation in class – 20%
2. Eight response papers – 60%
3. Presentation or Final Essay – 20%