Christopher Adair-Toteff

This Palgrave Pivot offers a balanced and impartial commentary on one of the most important of the early writings by the German legal scholar Carl Schmitt. The book is known mostly by its title Politische Theologie but Schmitt’s subtitle indicated that his book was on more than political theology, but was focused on conceptions of sovereignty, authority, and the ‘state of exception’. The author shows how the Politische Theologie published in 1922 clearly formulated Schmitt’s thinking regarding decisionism, dictatorship, and sovereignty, and how these notions intertwined to propose a governmental model opposed to parliamentary democracy. The book illuminates Carl Schmitt’s role in theorising the ‘state of exception’ as he engaged in debates with those who contended that democratic principles were crucial. Schmitt insisted there needs to be a sovereign individual whose authority provides an immediate decision to the ‘state of exception.’ This book will be of interest to scholars of legal and political philosophy, as well as those interested broadly in ideas of classical liberalism, wartime political economy, authoritarianism and socio-economic influences on legal thinking.

This handbook is the most comprehensive volume devoted to Raymond Aron’s manifold interests. Providing the most up to date scholarship on Aron’s work - from his earliest to his last writings - it reveals him to be more than a philosopher and a sociologist; he was also a first-rate political thinker, an expert on international relations, and an insightful cultural critic. With attention to Aron’s politics, his conceptions of history and his ideas regarding the future, as well as his thought on war and peace, industry and ideology, it also considers Aron’s connections with other leading figures such as Julien Freund, Albert Camus, and Jean-Paul Sartre. A demonstration of Aron’s status as one of Europe’s greatest 20th century thinkers, The Routledge International Handbook on Raymond Aron will appeal to all those interested in appreciating the breadth and depth of Raymond Aron’s works and his contributions to our understanding of many modern socio-political questions. As such, it will appeal to scholars with interests in the history of philosophy, the history of sociology, social theory and political sociology.

Widely considered two of the most controversial legal scholars, Hans Kelsen and Carl Schmitt have been the subject of debate for almost a century. This book focuses on a limited, but extremely important, controversy between Kelsen and Schmitt: the answer to the question regarding the proper guardian of the constitution. This is a debate that goes to the heart of political power and legal thinking. The work presents a detailed examination of the three key documents from 1927 to 1933 regarding this controversy. An understanding of these writings will aid in comprehending the larger controversy between Kelsen and Schmitt regarding discussion or decisionism, law or power, and democracy or dictatorship. As much about the conflict between pluralism and unity and between democracy and autocracy as it is about a specific historical controversy, this study will be of interest to academics and researchers working in the areas of Jurisprudence and Legal Philosophy, Constitutional Law and Theory, Political Philosophy and Legal History.

This book reintroduces the work of Raymond Aron and demonstrates the pertinence of his thought for reflection on social interaction and the human condition. One of Europe’s leading intellectuals, Aron was primarily a sociologist, but his writings transcended disciplinary boundaries and engaged with philosophy and political theory. A clear and concise introduction to Aron’s thought on a variety of major socio-political questions – including the importance to social thought of historical understanding, the connection between ideology and socio-political thinking, the development and nature of sociology itself, labour relations, international relations and trans-disciplinary socio-political thought – Reintroducing Raymond Aron explains Aron’s work within its historical context, underlining its importance and relevance for contemporary sociological and political problems. It will therefore appeal to scholars and students of sociology, sociological theory, political theory and international relations.

This book reintroduces the work of Raymond Aron and demonstrates the pertinence of his thought for reflection on social interaction and the human condition. One of Europe’s leading intellectuals, Aron was primarily a sociologist, but his writings transcended disciplinary boundaries and engaged with philosophy and political theory. A clear and concise introduction to Aron’s thought on a variety of major socio-political questions – including the importance to social thought of historical understanding, the connection between ideology and socio-political thinking, the development and nature of sociology itself, labour relations, international relations and trans-disciplinary socio-political thought – Reintroducing Raymond Aron explains Aron’s work within its historical context, underlining its importance and relevance for contemporary sociological and political problems. It will therefore appeal to scholars and students of sociology, sociological theory, political theory and international relations.

This book is an account of the tension between the need for order and the desire for freedom during the tense years of the Weimar Republic. It explains how various groups interpreted Article 48 of the Weimar Constitution and utilized it to reinstate peace and tranquility. While Article 48 is usually associated with the so-called Preußenschlag—the taking over of the Prussian government by the order of Reich Chancellor Kurt von Papen—it had been introduced as a necessity during earlier “states of emergency.”This investigation delves into the relevant works by many of the leading constitutional scholars in Germany. This list includes Hugo Preuss, Carl Schmitt, Hans Kelsen, Gerhard Anschütz, Richard Thoma, Erwin Jacobi, Hans Nawiasky, and Richard Grau. This book is a clearly written and detailed account of the history surrounding the debate about the appropriate emergency measures to be taken under Article 48. The work is important for its historical interest, and also because the conflict between authority and freedom has continuing relevance.The book will be a valuable resource for researchers and academics working in the areas of Legal History, Legal Philosophy, Legal Theory, Constitutional History, and German Studies.

This book illuminates the work of Werner Sombart, a key contemporary of Max Weber, showing how his writing and thinking laid the groundwork for concepts of modern capitalism. Although the notion of the ‘spirit’ of modern capitalism is most associated with Weber, it was Sombart who first used this phrase, with Weber focusing mainly on socioeconomics while Sombart continued to develop his ideas around modern capitalism. This book critically analyses Sombart’s groundbreaking work, “Der moderne Kapitalismus” among his other writings to demonstrate how they may be read as a complementary alternative to Weber, providing a more detailed, sustained, and a comprehensive account of the genesis and nature of modern capitalism. This book will be of interest to a scholarly audience including students and researchers of the history of economic thought, as well as areas of sociology, politics, and political economy.

Dieses Buch beleuchtet das Werk von Werner Sombart, einem wichtigen Zeitgenossen von Max Weber, und zeigt, wie sein Denken die Grundlagen für Konzepte des modernen Kapitalismus legte. Obwohl der Begriff des „Geistes“ des modernen Kapitalismus am häufigsten mit Weber verbunden wird, war es Sombart, der diesen Ausdruck zuerst verwendete, während Weber sich hauptsächlich auf die Sozialökonomik konzentrierte, während Sombart seine Ideen zum modernen Kapitalismus weiterentwickelte. Dieses Buch analysiert kritisch Sombarts bahnbrechendes Werk „Der moderne Kapitalismus“ und andere Schriften, um zu zeigen, wie sie als ergänzende Alternative zu Weber gelesen werden können, und bietet eine detailliertere und umfassendere Darstellung der Entstehung und Natur des modernen Kapitalismus. Dieses Buch wird ein interessantes Werk für ein wissenschaftliches Publikum sein, einschließlich Studierenden und Forschern der Geschichte des wirtschaftlichen Denkens sowie in den Bereichen Soziologie, Politik und Politische Ökonomie.

This book illuminates the work of Werner Sombart, a key contemporary of Max Weber, showing how his writing and thinking laid the groundwork for concepts of modern capitalism. Although the notion of the ‘spirit’ of modern capitalism is most associated with Weber, it was Sombart who first used this phrase, with Weber focusing mainly on socioeconomics while Sombart continued to develop his ideas around modern capitalism. This book critically analyses Sombart’s groundbreaking work, “Der moderne Kapitalismus” among his other writings to demonstrate how they may be read as a complementary alternative to Weber, providing a more detailed, sustained, and a comprehensive account of the genesis and nature of modern capitalism. This book will be of interest to a scholarly audience including students and researchers of the history of economic thought, as well as areas of sociology, politics, and political economy.

This book explores the thought of the three ‘founding’ members of the Austrian School of economics: Carl Menger, Friedrich von Wieser, and Eugen Böhm-Bawerk, considering the overlapping and specialization of their work on money, value, and capital. Offering an incisive overview of the work of three important, but often-neglected figures, the author sheds fresh light on the transition from Adam Smith’s economics and the thought of the German School, to modern economic theory, considering also the influence of the Austrian School on the work of Max Weber. As such, it will appeal to scholars with interests in the history of ideas, economic theory, political economy, and social theory.

This book examines the largely-neglected shift in Max Weber’s work from political economy to economic sociology. Considering the importance of his recognition—made during his research on the Protestant Ethic—of the reciprocal influences that exist between economics and society and the role of this realization in prompting him to rethink the study of political economy, the author sheds fresh light on his emerging belief that the study of the relationship between economic factors and social issues required a new discipline. A study that charts an important development in the thought of one of the founding figures of sociology, this volume will appeal to scholars of social theory with interests in the history of the field and the legacy of Max Weber.

Exploring, clarifying, and moving beyond the distinction between ‘community’ and ‘society’ for which he is best known, this book rediscovers the work of Ferdinand Tönnies, providing fresh insights into his thought, which are often overlooked for want of a grasp of his background in philosophy. With attention to the fact that Tönnies always wrote from a sociological perspective, it considers the importance of the breadth of his writing on a range of subjects, including politics, philosophy, economics, and ethics, these being the foundations of social policy - a field with which Tönnies was concerned as a scholar who sought not only to understand the world but also to change it for the better. The first book to provide an accessible overview of Tönnies' work that places his thought in context, explores his key concepts, and demonstrates his continuing relevance in sociology - a discipline he helped to establish - Reintroducing Ferdinand Tönnies will appeal to scholars and students with interests in social theory, the history of sociology, and the sociology of Ferdinand Tönnies.

Exploring, clarifying, and moving beyond the distinction between ‘community’ and ‘society’ for which he is best known, this book rediscovers the work of Ferdinand Tönnies, providing fresh insights into his thought, which are often overlooked for want of a grasp of his background in philosophy. With attention to the fact that Tönnies always wrote from a sociological perspective, it considers the importance of the breadth of his writing on a range of subjects, including politics, philosophy, economics, and ethics, these being the foundations of social policy - a field with which Tönnies was concerned as a scholar who sought not only to understand the world but also to change it for the better. The first book to provide an accessible overview of Tönnies' work that places his thought in context, explores his key concepts, and demonstrates his continuing relevance in sociology - a discipline he helped to establish - Reintroducing Ferdinand Tönnies will appeal to scholars and students with interests in social theory, the history of sociology, and the sociology of Ferdinand Tönnies.

This book explores the thought of the three ‘founding’ members of the Austrian School of economics: Carl Menger, Friedrich von Wieser, and Eugen Böhm-Bawerk, considering the overlapping and specialization of their work on money, value, and capital. Offering an incisive overview of the work of three important, but often-neglected figures, the author sheds fresh light on the transition from Adam Smith’s economics and the thought of the German School, to modern economic theory, considering also the influence of the Austrian School on the work of Max Weber. As such, it will appeal to scholars with interests in the history of ideas, economic theory, political economy, and social theory.

This book examines the largely-neglected shift in Max Weber’s work from political economy to economic sociology. Considering the importance of his recognition—made during his research on the Protestant Ethic—of the reciprocal influences that exist between economics and society and the role of this realization in prompting him to rethink the study of political economy, the author sheds fresh light on his emerging belief that the study of the relationship between economic factors and social issues required a new discipline. A study that charts an important development in the thought of one of the founding figures of sociology, this volume will appeal to scholars of social theory with interests in the history of the field and the legacy of Max Weber.

Ernst Troeltsch was a theologian and sociologist but he was also a philosopher of culture. He was concerned with the "spirit of the modern world" throughout most of his academic life and chose to investigate a number of critical issues which he believed were especially problematic for the modern world. This book is an exploration of many of the key issues. It begins with an explanation of what Troeltsch believed the "spirit of the modern world" to be and then to explaining the debt that Troeltsch owed to Friedrich Schleiermacher for an understanding of the modern world. Chapters are then devoted to Troeltsch's investigations into issues such as the relationship between church and state, the role of natural law, the problems of historicism and pessimism, and it concludes with his observations about politics in war and in revolution. This work will be of interest to those concerned with understanding the modern world.

Raymond Aron made major investigations into the dialectic between war and peace, and also developed a sophisticated theory of international relations. Despite this, his body of work has been overlooked compared to that of his more famous contemporaries. This book shines a light on both the man and his work on ideological critique, the philosophy of history, international relations and political economy. The book also discusses Aron's political legacy and argues that a number of his critiques and theories can help us address many of the problems and conflicts of the 21st century.

This book is an investigation into Carl Schmitt’s critical thinking regarding the alleged deficiencies he identified in modern liberalism. Noted jurist, constitutional scholar, and a fierce critic of liberalism and pluralism, Schmitt mounted a sustained attack on the defects of the Weimar constitution between 1916 and 1934, contending that what Germany needed was a strong decisive leader to maintain political unity. This book provides a concise and clear explanation of Schmitt’s disagreements with other constitutional scholars, from his time as a university graduate up until Hitler’s rise to power. Although these disagreements were couched in legal terminology, they represented political criticisms that went directly to the heart of modern democracy, culminating in Schmitt's defence of the Reich against Prussia in the constitutional crisis of 1932. The book concludes with a strenuous defence of modern liberalism in response to the Schmittian critique. Thus, thisbook is not just an exploration of Carl Schmitt’s work, but a response to one of the harshest attacks on the modern liberal state, and a blueprint for a renewal of democracy, pluralism, and the rule of law.

Raymond Aron made major investigations into the dialectic between war and peace, and also developed a sophisticated theory of international relations. Despite this, his body of work has been overlooked compared to that of his more famous contemporaries. This book shines a light on both the man and his work on ideological critique, the philosophy of history, international relations and political economy. The book also discusses Aron's political legacy and argues that a number of his critiques and theories can help us address many of the problems and conflicts of the 21st century.

Max Weber argued that a religious group or individual is influenced by all kinds of things but if they claim to be acting in the name of religion, we should attempt to understand their perspective on religious grounds first. He gives religion credit for shaping a person's image of the world, and this image of the world can affect their view of their interests, and ultimately how they decide to take action. For Weber, religion is best understood as it responds to the human need for theodicy and soteriology. He believes that human beings are troubled with the question of theodicy. How can the extraordinary power of a divine god be reconciled with the imperfection of the world that he has created and rules over? People need to know, for example, why there is undeserved good fortune and suffering in the world. Religion offers people soteriological answers, or answers that provide opportunities for salvation - relief from suffering, and reassuring meaning. This volume is a collection of ten articles by Christopher Adair-Toteff that examine the fundamental aspects of Max Weber's sociology of religion. They were published between 2002 and 2015 in various renowned journals and deal with different topics such as charisma, asceticism, mysticism, theodicy, prophets, and "Kulturprotestantismus." In his work, the author attempts to understand, clarify, and interpret key concepts and themes in Weber's sociology of religion.