Customer Reviews

Tönnies: Community and Civil Society (Cambridge Texts in the History of Political Thought)

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Before I start I must say that I haven't read this translation, and for that part of the book I can't say annything. First change that I can see is in the title - mine was "Community and society (Gemeinschaft und Gesselschaft)" and this one has Civili society in it. Wheter this change is justifiable, I cannot say, you'll just have to see for yourself.

We are referring to this book as a classic of socio-political thought, and there isn't any doubt about that. Coming from the world of positivism, following the footsteps of Hegel and great systems, Tönnies is dveloping his own views in history and development of society in general.

This is not a place to debate over concepts of Gemeinschaft and Gesselschaft, nor is ist a place for their comparison with Hegelian ideas. Just to be noted, whilst developing it's own viewpoint, Tönnies is the great compiler of Marx, Hegel and bilogical positivists of his time.

Nevertheles, this book is thought-provoking and cannot be put aside with one reading, at least not for anyone who is interested in the subject. Debating with Tönnies over ideology is time consuming and takes much effort, but is rewarded with the feeling of great clash of minds amongst intelectuals, from which will, eventually, some new idea take its new form.

Community and society is a must-read for those of you out there who wish to understand the development of humankind viewpoints on society, and for those of you who are interested in sociology. For political philosophy you should find other, debatable better, sources, but you too shouldn't avoid Tönnies, even as an afterthoguht. Casual reader have no place here - unfortnately Tönnies gets, from time to time, very technical on its subject and expects from their readers certain backgroud knowledge of the things discusses. Wihout one, you should find trodding through this text rather difficult job.