Reintroducing Ferdinand Toennies

Exploring, clarifying, and moving beyond the distinction between 'community' and 'society' for which he is best known, this book rediscovers the work of Ferdinand Toennies, providing fresh insights into his thought, which are often overlooked for want of a grasp of his background in philosophy. With attention to the fact that Toennies always wrote from a sociological perspective, it considers the importance of the breadth of his writing on a range of subjects, including politics, philosophy, economics, and ethics, these being the foundations of social policy - a field with which Toennies was concerned as a scholar who sought not only to understand the world but also to change it for the better. The first book to provide an accessible overview of Toennies' work that places his thought in context, explores his key concepts, and demonstrates his continuing relevance in sociology - a discipline he helped to establish - Reintroducing Ferdinand Toennies will appeal to scholars and students with interests in social theory, the history of sociology, and the sociology of Ferdinand Toennies.