Abstract

VERNIK, Esteban Jorge. Visions of freedom. About the central question in Simmel. Estud. sociol [online]. 2018, vol.36, n.106, pp.25-45. ISSN 2448-6442.  https://doi.org/10.24201/es.2018v36n106.1486.

From his first sociological book, On social differentiation of 1890, to his posthumous book of 1918, The view of life. Four metaphysical essays, George Simmel speaks at length about the notion of freedom. This topic is recurring also in his main works. However, throughout his production, the author develops different meanings and dimensions of the concept of freedom, in relation to the trends toward differentiation and individualization characteristic of modern societies, in which the main symbol is money. This article reconstructs and analyzed such different meanings of freedom, with special emphasis in its sociological usages. Finally, a suggestion is made to consider the concept of freedom as the main topic and guiding thread of the totality of Simmel’s work.

Keywords : Georg Simmel; freedom, money.

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