Overview

This work introduces modern social theory through the creative exploration of eight major metaphors that have shaped western understanding of human society. The book aims to demonstrate, how each one is rooted in a broader tradition of thought. The author argues that over decades and centuries, social theorists have variously likened societies to organisms and living systems, to machines, battlefields, legal systems, marketplaces, games, theoretical productions, and discourses. A chapter on each of these metaphorical traditions explores its historical context and identifies its strengths, limitations, and opportunities for further development.

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9780742509375

Table of Contents

Reviews

A highly readable and innovative work-one that deserves a wide audience. By articulating eight major metaphors in social theory, Rigney opens vistas for interpreting present-day social and cultural reality. -- Gideon Sjoberg, University of Texas Social science and social life both depend on imagination. Rigney's The Metaphorical Society offers tools for understanding the world and an engagement in the critical task of seeing what each tool obscures and what it reveals. -- Craig Calhoun, president, Social Science Research Council; professor of sociology and history, New York University A nicely compact book that covers nearly every kind of social theorizing imaginable-not just sociology, but the array of academic disciplines, plus politics, poetry, business and industry, religious and military reasoning, common sense, and on and on: They are all there, side by side, though sociology is predominantly featured. The prose is wonderful, smooth, conversational, lucid, and flowing. Citations are detailed and the bibliography thorough. Contemporary Sociology This book will prove useful not only to the beginner who is trying to develop a sense of what is involved in the practice of theorizing, but also to sociologists and theorists who want to develop an understanding of how they use language, and language uses them. BSA Network Exceptionally well written and learned... Should find a significant readership in undergraduate and graduate courses. -- Ben Agger

Social science and social life both depend on imagination. Rigney's The Metaphorical Society offers tools for understanding the world and an engagement in the critical task of seeing what each tool obscures and what it reveals.--Calhoun, Craig

A highly readable and innovative work-one that deserves a wide audience. By articulating eight major metaphors in social theory, Rigney opens vistas for interpreting present-day social and cultural reality. -- Gideon Sjoberg, University of Texas Social science and social life both depend on imagination. Rigney's The Metaphorical Society offers tools for understanding the world and an engagement in the critical task of seeing what each tool obscures and what it reveals. -- Craig Calhoun, New York University A nicely compact book that covers nearly every kind of social theorizing imaginable-not just sociology, but the array of academic disciplines, plus politics, poetry, business and industry, religious and military reasoning, common sense, and on and on: They are all there, side by side, though sociology is predominantly featured. The prose is wonderful, smooth, conversational, lucid, and flowing. Citations are detailed and the bibliography thorough. Contemporary Sociology This book will prove useful not only to the beginner who is trying to develop a sense of what is involved in the practice of theorizing, but also to sociologists and theorists who want to develop an understanding of how they use language, and language uses them. BSA Network Exceptionally well written and learned... Should find a significant readership in undergraduate and graduate courses. -- Ben Agger

Author Information

Daniel Rigney is professor of sociology and director of the honors program at St. Mary's University in San Antonio, Texas.

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