On The Shoulders of Giants: Theoretical Heritage of Sociology Classics for the Analysis of Modern Society

The article analyzes the potential of classical sociological theories for the research of modern societies. It is shown that the reason for the loss of interest in the classical heritage is the spread of vulgar interpretations of sociological postmodernism, radicalizing the rejection of theoretical meta-narratives, as well as presentism in the research attitudes of young sociologists. Using the example of L. Mumford's "megamachine" concept, the heuristic possibilities of sociological classics for understanding social relations in a digital society are shown. There are similarities and differences of the "megamachines" of the past as machine-like social organizations created to maximize human labor, managerial, etc. functions with social connections mediated by digital media. The conclusion is made that the application of the concept of "megamachine" to modern society actualizes an assumption that if in the societies of classical capitalism materialized labor dominated the living (K. Marx), then in a digital society objectified and embodied in symbolic systems and in complex techniques communication, information and intelligence assert their dominance over live communications and social connections.

Keywords

sociological classics, digital society, L. Mumford's concept of "megamachine", centralization and decentralization, social control, social networks, depersonification, living and materialized labor

Received

21.06.2022

Publication date

21.06.2022

Number of characters

29369

Cite

GOST	Zarubina N. "On The Shoulders of Giants": Theoretical Heritage of Sociology Classics for the Analysis of Modern Society // Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya – 2022. – Issue 5 C. 15-24 [Electronic resource]. URL: http://ras.jes.su/socis/s013216250019274-4-1-en (circulation date: 24.04.2024). DOI: 10.31857/S013216250019274-4
MLA	Zarubina, Natalia ""On The Shoulders of Giants": Theoretical Heritage of Sociology Classics for the Analysis of Modern Society." Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya 5 (2022):15-24. DOI: 10.31857/S013216250019274-4
APA	Zarubina N. (2022). "On The Shoulders of Giants": Theoretical Heritage of Sociology Classics for the Analysis of Modern Society. Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya (5), pp.15-24 DOI: 10.31857/S013216250019274-4

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