Abstract :
Durkheim s sociology is read in a post-Darwin context, and then compared and contrasted with Veblen s post-Darwinian sociology. Both Durkheim and Veblen are contrasted with the typical, Kantian, rationalist, and pre-Darwinian readings of them. Additionally, the pragmatism of William James, is used as a new context to capture the struggle for existence of ideas, particularly Durkheim s and Veblen s unusual ideas. This new reading illustrates the continued relevance of Durkheim s and Veblen s central ideas (such as anomie, barbarism, conspicuous consumption) to contemporary social life. These insights are illustrated with regard to current economic crises, the ongoing war on terror, and education.
NaturalLanguageKeyword :
Veblen , Durkheim , anomie , conspicuous consumption , pragmatism
