Norbert Elias (sociologist)
Norbert Elias was a prominent German sociologist, born on June 22, 1897, in Breslau, Germany (now Wrocław, Poland). He initially pursued studies in medicine and philosophy at Breslau University but eventually shifted his focus to sociology under the influence of philosopher Richard Hönigswald. His seminal work, "Über den Prozess der Zivilisation" (The Civilizing Process), published in various editions from 1939 onwards, explores the evolution of social behaviors and manners in Europe, proposing that the growth of civilization is a slow and complex process influenced by knowledge and social dynamics.
Elias's career was significantly impacted by the rise of the Nazi regime in Germany, forcing him to flee first to Paris and then to London, where he continued his research amidst personal tragedies, including the loss of family members. Following his relocation to the UK, he took up teaching positions and became influential in shaping the field of sociology in Britain, mentoring future scholars.
His later works, including "The Established and the Outsiders" and "Die höfische Gesellschaft," further developed his theories on social order and dynamics. Despite facing challenges as an immigrant and initially receiving limited recognition, Elias's contributions have been acknowledged posthumously, solidifying his legacy as a key figure in 20th-century sociology. He continued to write and lecture until his death on August 1, 1990, in Amsterdam, leaving behind a rich body of work that continues to influence sociological thought.
Norbert Elias (sociologist)
Sociologist
- Born: June 22, 1897
- Birthplace: Breslau, Germany (modern-day Wrocław, Poland)
- Died: August 1, 1990
- Place of death: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Education: Johannes Gymnasium Breslau; Breslau University
Significance: Norbert Elias developed the civilizing theory of sociology.
Background
Norbert Elias was born in Breslau, Germany, on June 22, 1897. (Breslau later became the city of Wrocław, Poland.) His parents were Hermann, a textile dealer, and Sophie Elias. As a boy, Norbert Elias attended Johannes Gymnasium Breslau, a local school where he gained a solid foundation in language, math, and science. He finished high school in 1916, at which time he joined the German armed forces and served in World War I (1914–1918).
After the war, Elias continued his education, pursuing degrees in medicine and philosophy at Breslau University. He completed his medical studies successfully but turned most of his interest and attention to philosophy. Under the mentorship of philosopher Richard Hönigswald, Elias wrote a thesis paper on the relationship between people, ideas, and history.
Much of this thesis was based on the theories of Immanuel Kant, a German philosopher and one of history's most influential thinkers. However, Elias departed from some of Kant's main tenets. Kant believed that some aspects of thought are established in the human mind at birth, but Elias disagreed. This perspective led Elias to leave philosophy and focus his efforts on sociology, the study of human groups' thoughts and behaviors.
After earning his doctorate in 1924, Elias accepted teaching positions at Heidelberg and Frankfurt Universities. There he worked with other influential psychologists such as Alfred Weber and Karl Mannheim. In 1933, however, when the Nazi Party came to power in Germany, Elias's flourishing career was suddenly interrupted. Elias was Jewish, making him a target for Nazi persecution.
Life's Work
To escape Nazis in Germany, Elias fled to Paris, France. He lived there for two years while he began a great work of sociology, Über den Prozess der Zivilisation (The Civilizing Process). In 1935, he moved to London, England, to continue his work. Elias spoke little English and relied on assistance from an organization that helped Jewish refugees.
In London, he continued work on Über den Prozess der Zivilisation for several years. In 1939, he published an early version of this book in Switzerland, but at first, it gained little attention from readers or scholars. That year, Europe plunged into World War II, leaving people little time to ponder psychology. Elias was treated poorly by many British people due to his status as a German immigrant. In the coming years, he also received harrowing news about family members killed by Nazis.
Despite his grief, Elias continued to pursue his studies. In the late 1940s, he helped establish the Group Analytic Society, an organization of researchers and scholars that developed methods of helping soldiers cope with psychological struggles. In his late fifties, Elias accepted his first university professorship, at the University of Leicester, in 1954. He brought new inspirations to the university's sociology department and helped to inspire a new generation of British sociologists, including Anthony Giddens and John H. Goldthorpe.
In 1962, Elias left Leicester and traveled to Africa to teach sociology at the University of Ghana. During his two years at Ghana, he reflected on his theories and continued his writing. Elias revised and expanded Über den Prozess der Zivilisation, refining his examination of the development of manners, social behaviors, and power structures in Europe. Elias felt that this work not only dealt with social history but also presented a new way of viewing sociology.
In 1969, Elias published the latest version of Über den Prozess der Zivilisation. This time, social scientists around the world took note of his achievement and theories. Other works, including The Established and the Outsiders (1965), Die höfische Gesellschaft (The Court Society) (1969), and Humana Conditio (1985), further expanded his views of humanity and society. He continued to publish into the late 1980s. His works were greatly varied and demonstrated the breadth of his thinking and interests. They included Los der Menschen (1987), a book of poems; Reflections on a Life, a memoir; Mozart: Sociology of a Genius, a biography of composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; and historical research on the development of world navies.
Elias's final published work was one of his most important. Studien über die Deutschen (Studies of the Germans), published in 1989, served as an expansion of Über den Prozess der Zivilisation. This book explored the process by which Germany, a highly civilized country, fell into a dangerously uncivilized state during the Nazi era.
Late in his life, Elias became a sought-after lecturer in many nations. In 1975, he returned to continental Europe, living in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. There, he wrote and spoke on a wide range of sociological topics until his death in 1990.
Impact
Although he did not gain widespread recognition until late in his life, Norbert Elias has since become recognized as one of the most important sociologists of the late twentieth century. His most indelible contribution to sociology was the theory of the civilizing process, as described in his masterwork Über den Prozess der Zivilisation. Elias described the growth of civilization as a kind of slow and complex evolution driven by knowledge, science, and social behaviors. His later works expanded on his sociological vision and added new facets to the growth and decay of social civility.
Personal Life
Norbert Elias died on August 1, 1990, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. He continued his writing and researching until his death.
Principal Works
Books
Über den Prozess der Zivilisation (The Civilizing Process), 1939, 1969
The Established and the Outsiders, 1965
Die höfische Gesellschaft (The Court Society), 1969
Humana Conditio, 1985
Studien über die Deutschen (Studies of the Germans), 1989
Bibliography
Elwell, Frank W. "The Sociology of Norbert Elias." Rogers State University, www.faculty.rsu.edu/users/f/felwell/www/Theorists/Essays/Elias1.html. Accessed 6 Sept. 2017.
Loyal, Steven, and Stephen Quilley, editors. The Sociology of Norbert Elias. Cambridge University Press, 2004.
Mennell, Stephen. "Norbert Elias (1897–1990): A Biographical Sketch." Norbert Elias Foundation, www.norberteliasfoundation.nl/elias/index.php. Accessed 6 Sept. 2017.
"Norbert Elias." Norbert Elias Foundation, www.norberteliasfoundation.nl. Accessed 6 Sept. 2017.
Salumets, Thomas, editors. Norbert Elias and Human Interdependencies. McGill-Queen's University Press, 2001.