Social Theorists
Ferdinand Tonnies
German: [tuhr-NEESS]; the surname Tonnies carries an umlauted o, not obvious to an English reader.
Also Known As Ferdinand Julius Tonnies (full birth name)
Sociology
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The German sociologist, economist and philosopher who, in his 1887 book Gemeinschaft und Gesellschaft, drew the founding distinction between community bound by mutual feeling and tradition and society bound by rational self-interest, a framework that shaped how later sociology described the shift from traditional to modern social life. He was a co-founder of the German Society for Sociology.
Facts
Birth DateSourced to the subject's own account Birth YearSourced to the subject's own account Death DateSourced to the subject's own account Death YearSourced to the subject's own account BirthplaceSourced to the subject's own accountOldenswort, Duchy of Schleswig 1 Death PlaceSourced to the subject's own account Nationality / CultureSourced to the subject's own account Defining ContributionSourced to the subject's own accountDistinguished Gemeinschaft (community, bonds sustained as ends in themselves) from Gesellschaft (society, bonds sustained instrumentally for individual aims), a foundational distinction in classical sociology. 1 Notable WorkSourced to the subject's own accountEinfuhrung in die Soziologie (1931) 1 Notable WorkSourced to the subject's own accountGemeinschaft und Gesellschaft (1887) 1 Cross-Tradition Connections
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Ferdinand Tonnies
WikipediaLead sectionQuote, Lead section
Ferdinand Tonnies (26 July 1855 - 8 April 1936) was a German sociologist, economist, and philosopher.
View the Source 1. Wikipedia: Ferdinand Tonnies
WikipediaEarly life sectionQuote, Early life section
Ferdinand Tonnies was born on 26 July 1855 on the Haubarg 'De Reap', Oldenswort on the Eiderstedt Peninsula into a wealthy farmer's family.
View the Source 1. Wikipedia: Ferdinand Tonnies
WikipediaInfoboxQuote, Infobox
9 April 1936(1936-04-09) (aged 80) Kiel, Nazi Germany
View the Source 1. Wikipedia: Ferdinand Tonnies
WikipediaConcepts sectionQuote, Concepts section
Gemeinschaft, often translated as community, refers to groups based on feelings of togetherness and mutual bonds, which are felt like a goal to be kept up, their members being means for this goal. Gesellschaft, often translated as society, on the other hand, refers to groups that are sustained by it being instrumental for their members' aims and goals.
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SocietyAtlas (internal)In Category: Social Theorists
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