Pierpaolo Donati - Transcending Modernity with Relational Thinking

This book explores the ways in which social relations are profoundly changing modern society, arguing that, constituting a reality of their own, social relations will ultimately lead to a new form of society: an aftermodern or relational society. Drawing on the thought of Simmel, it extends the idea that society consists essentially of social relations, in order to make sense of the operation of dichotomous forces in society and to examine the emergence of a third in the morphogenetic processes. Through a realist and critical relational sociology, which allows for the fact that human beings are both internal and external to social relations, and therefore to society, the author shows how we are moving towards a new, trans-modern society one that calls into question the guiding ideas of Western modernity, such as the notion of linear progression, that science and technology are the decisive factors of human development, and that culture can entirely supplant nature. As such, it will appeal to sociologists, social theorists, economists, political scientists, and social philosophers with interests in relational thought, critical realism, and social transformation.

Pierpaolo Donati is Alma Mater Professor (PAM) of Sociology at the University of Bologna, Italy. Former President of the Italian Sociological Association, he is the author of Relational Sociology: A New Paradigm for the Social Sciences, co-author of The Relational Subject, and co-editor of Social Science, Philosophy and Theology in Dialogue.

303 COVID-19

Volume I: Global Pandemic, Societal Responses, Ideological Solutions

Edited by J. Michael Ryan

304 COVID-19

Volume II: Social Consequences and Cultural Adaptations

Edited by J. Michael Ryan

305 Prevent Strategy

Helping the Vulnerable Being Drawn Towards Terrorism or Another Layer of State Surveillance?

Edited by David Lowe and Robin Bennett

306 Regime Change in Turkey

Neoliberal Authoritarianism, Islamism and Hegemony

Edited by Errol Babacan, Melehat Kutun, Ezgi Pnar and Zafer Ylmaz

307 The Politics of Europeanisation

Work and Family Life Reconciliation Policy

Nazli Kazanoglu

308 Internet Dating

Intimacy and Social Change

Chris Beasley and Mary Holmes

309 Transcending Modernity with Relational Thinking

Pierpaolo Donati

310 Exploring Welfare Bricolage in Europes Superdiverse Neighbourhoods

Jenny Phillimore, Hannah Bradby, Tilman Brand, Beatriz Padilla and Simon Pemberton

For more information about this series, please visit: https://www.routledge.com/Routledge-Advances-in-Sociology/book-series/SE0511