Nomological Explanation in Historical Sociology (the Case of Genesis and Flowering of Italian Humanism)

Occupation: Chief Researcher in the Institute for Philosophy and Law, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences; Head of Department for Social Philosophy and Political Sciences of Novosibirsk State University; Professor of Department for International Affairs an
Affiliation:
Institute for Philosophy and Law, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences
Novosibirsk State University
Novosibirsk State Technical University
Address: Russian Federation, Novosibirsk

Journal name

Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya

Edition

Issue 2

Pages

115-127

Abstract

The article applies K. Hempel’s logical scheme for full-fledged academic explanation of the origin and flourishing of humanism in the Northern Italy city-states (15th–16th centuries). Large consolidated continuous ideological movements (including Italian humanism) arise not randomly but because of combined circumstances in various social spheres (from geopolitics to everyday practices). Author’s formulation of the “universal hypothesis” (for genesis of any cultural movements) uses Toynbееаn “challenge-response” scheme, the principle of positive reinforcement of successful response strategies, the concepts of legitimacy, social movements, and resource mobilization. The genesis of Italian humanism is conceptualized as a macro-event with a fixed set of well-known ideological characteristics (anthropocentrism, activism, the “renaissance” of Roman and Greek classics, hedonism, faith in magic, etc). Initial data include main challenges-threats and challenges-opportunities for the Italian elites and the papacy, characteristics of affordable cultural capital (Latin and Greek “antiquities”). Also ensuing cultural strategies were successful. The movement gained sources of replenishment by young newcomers, rich high-ranking patrons with plenty of cultural resources. Non-institutionalized channels of vertical mobility were open in diplomacy, papal bureaucracy, commerce, literacy, art, and education. The correspondence of these initial data for the late 15th century Italy with the universal hypothesis premises means an obligatory appearance of macro-events: emergence and flourishing of humanism as a cultural movement with given characteristics.

Keywords

historical sociology, macro-sociology, logic of scientific explanation, Karl Hempel, social patterns in history, challenge-response, Italian humanism, papacy, geopolitics, cultural movements, Doomsday, legitimacy

Received

27.02.2020

Publication date

16.03.2020

Number of characters

38386

Cite

GOST	Rozov N. Nomological Explanation in Historical Sociology (the Case of Genesis and Flowering of Italian Humanism) // Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya – 2020. – Issue 2 C. 115-127 [Electronic resource]. URL: http://ras.jes.su/socis/s013216250008499-1-1-en (circulation date: 25.04.2025). DOI: 10.31857/S013216250008499-1
MLA	Rozov, Nikolai S "Nomological Explanation in Historical Sociology (the Case of Genesis and Flowering of Italian Humanism)." Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya 2 (2020):115-127. DOI: 10.31857/S013216250008499-1
APA	Rozov N. (2020). Nomological Explanation in Historical Sociology (the Case of Genesis and Flowering of Italian Humanism). Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya (2), pp.115-127 DOI: 10.31857/S013216250008499-1

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