GEORG SIMMEL X

The discovery of the invisible world in

variation of Marx. Conflict Theorists.

Marx focused on a macro approach to the

study of conflict. Economic institutions
gave rise to class structure. He examined
the material disparities which existed.
 It was the structural regime that permeated
conflict.(discuss)

Simmel saw conflict as micro, through the

behavior of the individual.

Human beings see the world through a veil of their

own perceptual forms which is based through the
form of human history. For example, Artistic forms
of expressions or ideals. (Michael Angelo)
Art conveys its own messages; it has a
life of its own. (Abstracts). Myths,
(funerals) legal codes and legal systems,
all convey meanings.(where as)

It is about the individual and also the

kind of interpretation that individuals
bring to situations. (symbol – kiss
Byam).
Simmel advanced the conception that society
consisted of a web of patterned interactions
and that sociology should study the forms of
interactions as they occur.

Only through institutional forms can man

attain freedom, yet his freedom is forever
endangered by these very institutional forms
(Rousseau)
The society is an invisible world with
invisible laws of its own and these
laws are found in the flow of culture,
language, technology, institutions
and art which moulds each new
generation along the line
of the past and informs the patterns of
interaction that impact on each individual.
Human beings are living individuals with a
cultural mould. Essentially it is their
interaction that moulds them, but yet they
are also regulated by the external world.
Individuals absorb and adapt from their
experience with others, for example,
Someone that was born in a country
and speak that language but adapts
to the language of another country.
Even though this is true society
moulds an individual.
For the individual to grow, that
individual must understand self and
society, for example conflict,
there must be someone to engage in
conflict with, yet an individual can
have conflict within himself or herself.

In order to succeed the individual has

to be able to navigate self and society
-know where he/she is.
Social conflict is based on reciprocal action:
– It can serve as an outlet for negative
attitudes and feelings; and for making
relationships possible.
- It can strengthen existing bonds or
establish new ones,
- it can be considered a creative rather than a
destructive force.
- Peace and feud, conflict and order are
correlative.
Both the cementing and the breaking of custom
constitute part of the external dialectic of social
life.
People have to be self conscious so as to avoid
being trapped in conflict; debt etc.

The drama of the human mind is the struggle that

exists between humans and society.

This drama is fundamentally a tragedy because

these two forces are seldom negotiated with
success. Walk away from conflict, especially with
someone who is irrational (ignorant).
The social institutions and the structure
of society are relatively permanent
heritage.
It is important for us to study our fleeting
encounters, for example, our experiences.
While the structure is creating imbalance
what are we doing to combat this, for
example, HIV – behavioural; take control
of our destiny.
Simmel’s Dialectical Method
According to Simmel the socialized
individual remains in a dual relation
with society.

In life we are always or simultaneously

within or without, we are neither
completely participant nor observer.
Sociation is the particular patterns and forms in
which men associate or interact . It involves
harmony and conflict, attraction and repulsion,
love and hate.

-It involves both categories of interaction.

-Human relations are likely to harbour for one

another not only positive but also negative
sentiments.
- Sociability must always be removed
from the taken for granted – remove
sentiments.

- It is important for the individual to

understand the language of society and
also understand the power relations
within society. 
In seeking to understand the power
relations of society it is important
that the individual pay attention to
the group structure; attachments,
dynamical aspects of structure.
Social Types

Simmel identified several social types, for

example, “the stranger”, “the mediator”, “the
poor”, “the adventurer” and “the renegade.”

The type becomes what he is through his

relations with others who assign him a
particular position and expect him to behave
in specific ways.
“the Stranger” Although the person comes and
remains, his position is determined by the fact
that he does not belong from the beginning and
he may leave again.

“The poor” It is only when “the poor” are

assisted that they become part of a group
characterized by poverty.

Society creates the social type of the poor and

assigns them a peculiar status that is marked only
by negative attributes, by what they do not have.
Group and Crowd
It is important for us to distinguish
between a group and a crowd.

- Group has organization

.

-The Dyad. In order maintain group cohesion or the survival of

the group, individuals depend upon each other, yet persons are
likely to maintain their own individuality.
The Triad. Group existence can be threatened in the sense that
one individual can deviate. In the case of conflict within the
group; an individual can play the role of moderator thereby
holding the group together. On the other hand, that individual
can be the cause of extended conflict.

 
- Crowd is an aggregate.

-People in crowds function

according to the lowest common
denominator.
- They tend to follow a charismatic
leader whether that person is
educated or not.
Simmel and Money

Simmel reflected on the Work of Marx and

the relationship between money and value.

- Marx saw capital as an attempt at

demonstrating that the value of commodities
(including human beings) result from the
labour power necessary to produce them.
-Simmel, argued that more generally, people
in all societies place value on items in light of
their relative desirability and scarcity.

People create value by making objects. The

greater the difficulty to obtain the object the
greater the value. The value of an object is
attained from the ability of people to distance
themselves properly from the object. Price is
based on supply and demand.
- Once the product is easily accessible the price of
the item will be low.

-Money gives purchasing power and power to

operate.

-When cynicism (deeply and often

contemptuously distrustful) is induced both the
highest and lower form of life is reduced, life is
reduced to a common denominator.

-Money can buy anything; food, beauty, etc.

People are only motivated by self-interest
and will use another person’s feelings to
advance their own interest, they are not
sincere. Money is a means to an end.

Money increases impersonal relations

among people. Because people attain the
ability to have money at their disposal it can
create an impersonal relationship.
Men and women take on a monetary value,
for example, what do you bring to the table.
(marriages).

- What is immanent in the relationship, or the

potential to become.

-Money leads to an increase of individual

enslavement. People become isolated or
autonomised. Does it create a cynical
attitude?
Increase in numbers reduces personal
relationship among members. It
increases secrecy and the need for
confidentiality in groups.

- Confidence is an intermediate of
knowledge and ignorance between men.

-
Depending on the degree of secrecy in
interaction between people or
acquaintances, interaction becomes
formal, it is very plastic. (Class notes 2012)

On the question of alienation, Marx

argued that one of the necessary
consequences of capitalism is people’s
alienation from one another and from the
commodities that they produce.
Simmel argued that:
- in any highly differentiated society people
are inevitably going to be alienated.
- the dominance of money as a medium of
exchange in modern social systems helps to
lower alienation.
-the widespread use of money allows
exchanges between people separated by
distance.
-create multiple social ties and lower the
level of alienation.
- the generalized acceptance of money in
exchanges increases social solidarity.
- it signifies a relatively high degree of trust
in the stability and future of society.
-the dominance of money allows
individuals to pursue a wider diversity of
activities than is possible in a barter or
mixed economies.
-it gives people vastly increased
options for self-expression.
-people have greater control over
their daily lives in money
economies.
References: Coser (1977);Turner,
Beeghley and Powers, (1989); Class
Notes, (2012)