Liberalism and Sociology: L. T. Hobhouse and Political Argument in England 1880-1914

by Stefan Collini

• ISBN13: 9780521274081
• ISBN10: 0521274087
• Edition: Reprint
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1983-03-31
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

In this wide-ranging book, Stefan Collini deals with the relationship between Liberalism and sociology in late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Britain. He discusses in particular the crucial contributions of L. T. Hobhouse, the leading Liberal political theorist of the period who is also generally regarded as the 'Founding Father' of British sociology. Based upon extensive original research, the book draws together themes from three fields which are normally pursued in historiographical isolation. It examines the moral and intellectual inspiration of the New Liberalism which came to dominate Edwardian politics; explores the nature of the systematic political philosophy in this period; and shows how the contemporary understanding of sociology was bound up with attempts to provide a theoretical and historical grounding for the belief in Progress, especially in opposition to Social Darwinist and other biological social theories. Throughout, the intellectual context necessary to a properly historical understanding of these ideas is reconstructed in detail and particular attention if paid to the structure of the moral and political discourse of the time.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Political Argument

Individualism and collectivism

Liberalism

Oxford collectivist

Radical journalist

New Liberal theorist

Sociology

The metaphysics of progress

Social Darwinism and social science

Sociology as a vocation

Harmony

Philosophy and the will to believe

Epilogue: The strange death of moral England

Bibliography

Index

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.