Lecture Notes: "Order and Disorder in Society" I

"Order and Disorder in Society"
by Erich Ahrens, edited and with Introduction by Melvin Bobick

INTRODUCTION

A. In this brief introduction, Prof. Bobick touches on where Ahrens' thought stands in the history of sociological theory, the main thrust of his lectures, and the primary influences on his thought.

1. Ahrens and the history of sociological theory.

a.) As noted in the very beginning, Ahrens was a "system builder" in much the same mold as Auguste Comte and other 19th-century thinkers we have discussed in this class. Which is to say, he explored broad, basic questions in a comprehensive way, drawing especially on his extensive knowledge of history.

(1) Although the term is not used in Prof. Bobick's comments, I believe Ahrens would qualify as a "social realist," recognizing the reality and significance of that larger life -- society, institutions.

(2) We could also say that Ahrens clearly embodies the "sociological imagination," but I would argue in a much more profound sense than C. Wright Mills intended (eg., his very deep knowledge of history).

1. The main thrust of his lectures.

a.) I would characterize the main thrust of his lectures, and indeed his thought in general, being the definition of "CORPORATE SOCIETY," and the sources of order and disorder within it. (And by "corporate," Ahrens is not referring to business. He is using corporate in its original Latin meaning: CORPORATUS, CORPORARE -- TO MAKE INTO A BODY; OR CORPUS -- A BODY. ALSO MEANING, UNITED OR COMBINED.)

b.) It does not come through much in this introduction, but Ahrens stressed the role of objects in human life and society -- essentially, that through action or work we create a world of meaning (i.e., culture). A by-product of action has been the creation of institutions, or organized systems of objects through which human ends are achieved. They constitute the body ("corpus") and are the basis or ground of order in modern society.

3. Primary influences on his thought.

a.) The one sociologist who is mentioned is RODERICK MCKENZIE, under whom Ahrens studied (1924-26). McKenzie was a human ecologist. As Bobick observes: "McKenzie saw objects as part of the organized structure of the world and thus recognized their importance in defining society." (p. 2) But as Bobick goes on to point out, Ahrens argued that McKenzie neglected the role of mind, thinking, ideas in the evolution of society(as we will see in Ahrens' own view of societal evolution).

b.) Most crucial to Ahrens' thought was American philosopher, ELIJAH JORDAN (especially his books, "Forms of Individuality" and "Theory of Legislation"). Jordan united what he saw as the major human contribution to modern society -- genuine thought -- with what he held to be the principal actors in modern society -- institutions.

c.) Ahrens (as did Jordan) also drew on Plato, especially his more "sociological writings" -- "The Republic," "Statesman," and "The Laws." Ahrens used "The Republic" as a basic text in Intro. Sociology.

(1) "Like Plato, and unlike the relativistic theory and sociology of his day, Ahrens believed human beings to be capable of thinking logically about society. And like Plato, he believed that a direct relationship existed between thinking logically about society and acting morally in it." (p. 4)
(For the Greeks, and Plato in particular, knowledge and virtue went hand-in-hand, which in modern terms would be the equivalent of fact and value going hand-in-hand.)
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That's all for now. I will post the rest of my lecture notes on Ahrens in a couple installments by the end of this week, hopefully.