Intimations of humanity and the case for a philosophical sociology

ABSTRACT

The main purpose of this article is to examine central issues discussed by Daniel Chernilo in his Debating Humanity: Towards a Philosophical Sociology (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2017). To this end, the analysis is divided into two parts. The first part, in addition to giving a brief overview of the book’s thematic structure, considers some of its key arguments. The second part scrutinizes its most controversial aspects and highlights its principal limitations. By way of conclusion, the paper argues that Chernilo’s study is a powerful reminder of the fact that a truly comprehensive understanding of society requires a critical engagement with the concept of humanity.

KEYWORDS:

• human nature
• humanism
• humanity
• philosophical anthropology
• philosophical sociology
• posthumanism

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. Chernilo (2017). In my analysis, I shall focus on the Introduction (pp. 1–22) and the Epilogue (pp. 229–236), as they provide a useful overview of the main arguments underlying Chernilo’s study. Cf. Guhin (2019).

2. Cf. Chernilo (2014). Cf. also Chernilo (2013).

3. Chernilo (2017), p. 1 (italics added; quotation modified).

4. Ibid., p. 1 (italics in original; punctuation modified).

5. Ibid., p. 1 (italics added).

6. Ibid., p. 1.

7. On this point, see ibid., p. 2. See also, for example: Adorno (2000 [1993]); Cordero (2017), pp. x, 7–8, 11, 153, 155, 160, 161n27, and 162; Manent (1998 [1994]); Susen (2017a), pp. 102–103 and 108–109.

8. Chernilo (2017), p. 2 (italics in original).

9. See, for example: Durkheim (1964 [1960]); Durkheim (1982 [1895]); Durkheim (2010 [1951/1953]). See also, for instance: Gane (1988); Giddens (1978); Lukes (1973); Susen (2015a), pp. 48–63.

10. Chernilo (2017), p. 2 (italics in original). Cf. Susen (2016b).

11. See Chernilo (2017), p. 2. See also, for example: Benton (1977); Benton and Craib (2001), pp. 13–49; Susen (2015a), pp. 48–63.

12. See, for example: Weber (1978 [1922]); Weber (1991 [1948]); Weber (2001/1930 [1904–05]). See also, for instance: Albrow (1990); Baert (2005); Susen (2016b); Turner (1992); Whimster (2001).

13. Chernilo (2017), pp. 2–3 (italics in original). See also Ginsberg (1968) and Hughes (1974).

14. See, for example: Marx (2000/1977 [1845]); Marx (2000/1977 [1859]).

15. See Chernilo (2017), pp. 2–3. See also for example: Habermas (1988 [1963]); Marcuse (2000 [1941/1955]).

16. See, for example: Butler (1990); Walby (2011).

17. See, for example: Bhambra (2014); Go (2016).

18. See Chernilo (2017), pp. 2–3. See also, for example: MacIntyre (1981); Nisbet (1967).

19. Chernilo (2017), p. 3 (italics in original).

20. On this point, see ibid., pp. 3–7. See also, for example: Borsari (2009); Fischer (2009); Gebauer and Wulf (2009); Rehberg (2009). In this context, however, Chernilo draws mainly on Cassirer (1972 [1923/1925/1929]) and Schnädelbach (1984 [1983]).

21. Chernilo (2017), p. 4 (punctuation modified).

22. Ibid., p. 4 (punctuation modified).

23. Ibid., p. 4 (italics in original). Cf. Blumenberg (2006).

24. See Chernilo (2017), pp. 4–5.

25. See ibid., p. 5. Cf. Löwith (1993 [1932]).

26. See Chernilo (2017), pp. 7–10. See also, for example: Dahrendorf (1965); Dahrendorf (1968 [1965]); Dahrendorf (1968), see esp. his essay on ‘Sociology and Human Nature’.

27. See Chernilo (2017), pp. 7–10.

28. Ibid., p. 8.

29. Ibid., p. 8.

30. Ibid., p. 9.

31. Ibid., p. 9.

32. Ibid., p. 9.

33. Ibid., p. 9 (italics in original; quotation modified).

34. Ibid., p. 10 (italics added).

35. Ibid., p. 10.

36. Ibid., p. 10.

37. See ibid., pp. 10–18. See also, for instance: Badmington (2000); Braidotti (2013); Braidotti (2019); Fukuyama (2002); Hayles (1999); Herbrechter (2013 [2009]); Hollis (2015 [1977]); Mahon (2017); Nayar (2014); Peterson (2018); Taylor (1989).

38. Chernilo (2017), p. 11.

39. See, for example: Archer (2000); Atanasoski and Vora (2019); Habermas (2003 [2001]); Fuller (2011); Fuller (2013); Fuller and Lipińska (2014); Honneth and Joas (1988 [1980]); Pinker (2002); Pinker (2018); Scheler (2009 [1928]); Sloterdijk (2009); Steane (2018); Wilson (2004 [1978]).

40. Chernilo (2017), p. 11.

41. See, for example: Latour (1990); Latour (1993 [1991]); Latour (2005); Latour (2013 [2012]).

42. See, for example: Braidotti (2013); Braidotti (2019).

43. See, for example: Clark (2001); Clark (2008).

44. See Chernilo (2017), p. 12.

45. On this point, see ibid., p. 11. See also Latour (2013 [2012]), pp. 33 and 154–162.

46. Chernilo (2017), p. 13.

47. Ibid., p. 14.

48. See Braidotti (2013), pp. 13–30.

49. Chernilo (2017), p. 14.

50. Ibid., p. 14 (italics in original). See also Davies (2008 [1997]).

51. See Chernilo (2017), p. 15.

52. Ibid., p. 15.

53. Ibid., p. 15.

54. Ibid., p. 15.

55. Ibid., p. 15.

56. Ibid., p. 15 (italics in original).

57. On the Habermasian notion of ‘performative contradiction’, see, for example: Habermas (1987 [1981]), p. 308; Habermas (2001), pp. 10–11 and 31; Abdel-Nour (2004), pp. 83–87 and 91–92; Jay (1992); Matustik (1989), esp. pp. 143–148, 169, and 172; Morris (1996); Schoolman (2005), pp. 336, 356–358, and 364; Susen (2007), pp. 77 and 98n68; Susen (2015a), pp. 234, 255, 256, 257, 281, 333n7, and 340n190.

58. See Chernilo (2017), p. 16. See also Clark (2001) and Clark (2008).

59. Chernilo (2017), p. 16 (italics in original).

60. Ibid., p. 16 (punctuation modified). Cf. Clark (2008), p. 30.

61. Clark (2008), p. 75. See Chernilo (2017), p. 17.

62. Chernilo (2017), p. 17.

63. Ibid., p. 17 (italics in original, except for the article ‘the’ before ‘artificial’).

64. Ibid., p. 17.

65. Clark (2008), p. 123 (italics in original; quotation modified). See Chernilo (2017), p. 17.

66. See Chernilo (2017), p. 18.

67. See ibid., pp. 229–236.

68. See, for instance, Scheler (2009 [1928]).

69. See, for instance, Cassirer (1972 [1923/1925/1929]).

70. See, for instance, Plessner (1970 [1941]).

71. See Chernilo (2017), p. 229.

72. Ibid., p. 229.

73. Ibid., p. 229 (italics added).

74. Ibid., p. 229 (italics added; quotation modified).

75. Ibid., p. 229 (italics added).

76. Ibid., p. 229.

77. Ibid., p. 229 (italics in original).

78. See ibid., pp. 229–236.

79. See ibid., p. 230.

80. Ibid., p. 230 (italics in original).

81. See, for instance: Arendt (1967 [1951]); Arendt (1953); Arendt (1998 [1958]); Arendt (2005).

82. Chernilo (2017), p. 230 (italics in original).

83. Ibid., p. 230.

84. Ibid., p. 230.

85. See ibid., pp. 230–231.

86. Surprisingly, Chernilo does not mention, let alone draw upon, Azmanova (2012).

87. Chernilo (2017), p. 230.

88. Ibid., p. 230.

89. Ibid., p. 230 (italics in original).

90. Ibid., p. 230.

91. Ibid., p. 231.

92. See ibid., pp. 231–233.

93. Ibid., p. 231.

94. Ibid., p. 231. Cf. Marx (2000/1977 [1845]), Marx (2000/1977 [1859]), and Marx and Engels (2000/1977 [1846]).

95. Chernilo (2017), p. 231 (italics in original). Cf. Blumenberg (2006).

96. Chernilo (2017), p. 232. Cf. Voegelin (1962).

97. See Chernilo (2017), p. 232. Cf. Blumenberg (2006).

98. Chernilo (2017), p. 232.

99. Ibid., p. 232 (italics in original).

100. See ibid., pp. 233–234.

101. Ibid., p. 233.

102. Ibid., p. 233 (punctuation modified).

103. Ibid., p. 233.

104. Ibid., p. 234.

105. See ibid., pp. 234–236.

106. See, for instance: Husserl (1972 [1939]); Husserl (1973 [1939]); Husserl (2012 [1913/1931]).

107. Chernilo (2017), p. 234.

108. Ibid., p. 234.

109. Ibid., p. 234.

110. Ibid., p. 234.

111. Ibid., p. 234 (punctuation modified).

112. Ibid., p. 234.

113. See ibid., pp. 234–235.

114. Ibid., p. 235.

115. Ibid., p. 236 (italics in original).

116. On this point, see, for example: Susen (2009), pp. 91–93, 94–95, and 107–108; Susen (2015a), pp. 76–77, 81–82, and 87; Susen (2017c), pp. 363–363.

117. Susen (2015a), p. 82.

118. Chernilo (2017), p. 17.

119. Ibid., p. 17 (italics added).

120. See ibid., p. 21.

121. Ibid., p. 21 (italics added).

122. On the use of most of these (and other) criteria in a different study, see Susen (2015a), pp. 23–31.

123. Chernilo (2017), p. 1.

124. On this point, see, for instance: Habermas (2001 [1984]), esp. 94–99; Habermas (2001), 13, 44, 45, and 79; Habermas (2018 [2009]), esp. pp. 88, 96, 102, 103, 117, 120, and 156; Susen (2007), pp. 88–89, 114, 244, 251, 265, and 286.

125. On this point, see, for example: Bourdieu (1992); Bourdieu and Wacquant (1992); Bourdieu (2013 [1978]); Susen (2013a); Susen (2013b).

126. Ibid., p. 4 (‘and’ italicized in the original; italics added to ‘natural’ and ‘conscious’) (punctuation modified).

127. See, for instance: Boly, Seth, Wilke, Ingmundson, Baars, Laureys, Edelman, and Tsuchiya (2013); Lund (2002); Willingham and Riener (2007 [2000]); Wynne (2001); Wynne and Udell (2013 [2001]).

128. See, for example: de Waal (2016); de Waal, Macedo, and Ober (2006); Høgh-Olesen (2019); Monsó, Benz-Schwarzburg, and Bremhorst (2018); Peterson (2011); Watanabe and Kuczaj (2013).

129. Chernilo (2017), p. 233 (italics added; quotation modified).

130. Ibid., p. 233.

131. Ibid., p. 233 (italics in original). Cf. Wilson (2000 [1975]) and Wilson (2004 [1978]).

132. Chernilo (2017), p. 233 (italics in original). Cf. Wilson (2000 [1975]) and Wilson (2004 [1978]).

133. Chernilo (2017), p. 5 (italics in original).

134. See, for example: Bonner and La Farge (1980); de Waal (2001); Durham (1990); Heyes and Galef (1996); Hurley and Chater (2005); Laland and Galef (2009).

135. On the concept of ‘ideal type’, see, for example: Haug, Haug, and Küttler (2004); Rosenberg (2016); Susen (2015a), pp. 57, 100, 204, 205, 207, and 217.

136. Chernilo (2017), pp. 233–234.

137. See, for example: Colebrook (2010); Fraser, Kember, and Lury (2006); Greco (2005); Marks (1998).

138. Chernilo (2017), p. 18 (quotation modified).

139. See, for example: Susen (2013a), p. 228; Susen (2013b), p. 330, 372, and 373.

140. Cf. Joas (1996 [1992]).

141. See Chernilo (2017), p. 233.

142. Ibid., p. 231 (italics in original).

143. Ibid., p. 231 (italics in original).

144. Ibid., p. 231 (italics in original).

145. Ibid., p. 231 (italics in original). Cf. Blumenberg (2006).

146. Chernilo (2017), p. 7 (italics in original); see also ibid., p. 9. Cf. Dahrendorf (1968 [1965]), p. 78.

147. Chernilo (2017), p. 231 (italics in original).

148. See ibid., p. 230.

149. See ibid., p. 230.

150. Susen (2015a), p. 61. On this point, see also Susen (2007), pp. 164–165, and Susen (2013b), p. 224.

151. Chernilo (2017), p. 230.

152. On these points, see, for example: Susen (2013b), p. 224; Susen (2012b), pp. 714–715; Susen (2015a), pp. 54–55.

153. Chernilo (2017), p. 1 (italics in original; punctuation modified).

154. On the concept of ‘metanarrative’, see, for instance: Susen (2015a), esp. Chapter 4. See also Susen (2016d) and Susen (2017b).

155. Chernilo (2017), p. 1 (italics added; quotation modified).

156. Ibid., p. 229 (quotation modified).

157. Ibid., p. 4 (italics in original).

158. Ibid., p. 4 (quotation modified).

159. See Susen (2013a) and Susen (2013b).

160. See Susen (2018a) and Susen (2018b).

161. Cf. Susen (2018a), esp. pp. 1281–1282.

162. Chernilo (2017), p. 6 (italics added).

163. See ibid., pp. 7–10. See also, for example: Dahrendorf (1965); Dahrendorf (1968 [1965]); Dahrendorf (1968), see esp. his essay on ‘Sociology and Human Nature’.

164. Chernilo (2017), p. 8.

165. Dahrendorf (1968 [1965]), p. 94. See Chernilo (2017), p. 8.

166. See Chernilo (2017), pp. 7–10.

167. Ibid., p. 8.

168. See ibid., pp. 7–10.

169. Ibid., p. 8.

170. Ibid., p. 8.

171. Ibid., p. 8 (italics added).

172. Ibid., p. 9 (italics in original; quotation modified).

173. Ibid., p. 9 (italics in original).

174. Ibid., p. 10.

175. Ibid., p. 10.

176. Ibid., p. 10.

177. Ibid., p. 10 (punctuation modified).

178. Ibid., p. 10.

179. On this point, see: Bourdieu (1992); Bourdieu and Wacquant (1992); Bourdieu (2013 [1978]). See also, for example: Addi (2001); Collins (1998); Grenfell (2010); Hanks (2005); Honneth (1986 [1984]); Jenkins (1994); Ledeneva (1994); Susen (2013a); Susen (2013b); Wacquant (2002 [1993]); Wacquant (2013).

180. On this point, see, for instance: Susen (2007), pp. 174, 241, and 252; Susen (2011a), pp. 450, 453, and 460; Susen (2013a), pp. 225–226 and 228; Susen (2014 [2015]), pp. 330–331; Susen (2016c), p. 221.

181. On this point, see, for instance: Susen (2007), esp. Chapter 7 and Chapter 8; Susen (2011b), p. 181; Susen (2011c), p. 68, 70, and 74; Susen (2013a), esp. pp. 210, 214–218, 222, 226, and 229; Susen (2014); Susen (2016a); Susen (2016c), pp. 202, 210–212, 217, and 222.

182. See Susen and Turner (2011).

183. See Susen and Turner (2014). See also Susen (2012b) and Susen (2015b) as well as Susen (2014 [2012]) and Susen (2014 [2015]).

184. Chernilo (2017), p. 10.

185. On this point, see Susen (2007), esp. pp. 221–226.

186. Cf. Foucault (2002 [1966/1970]).

187. Chernilo (2017), p. 11 (punctuation modified).

188. Ibid., p. 15 (italics in original).

189. Ibid., p. 232.

190. Ibid., p. 1 (italics added).

191. Ibid., p. 230 (italics in original).

192. Ibid., p. 230.

193. Cf. Pinker (2002), Pinker (2011), and Pinker (2018).

194. On this issue, see, for example: Holloway and Susen (2013), p. 33; Susen (2007), pp. 13, 121–125, 226, 260, 261, 268, and 308; Susen (2012a), pp. 296, 306, 309, 311, 312, 319n84, 319n85, 323n148, and 324–325n165; Susen (2016b), pp. 74–75; Susen (2013a), pp. 229–230; Susen (2013b), pp. 327, 329, 343, 354, 372, and 373; Susen (2016e), p. 137.

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Simon Susen

Simon Susen is Professor of Sociology at City, University of London. He is the author of The Foundations of the Social: Between Critical Theory and Reflexive Sociology (Oxford: Bardwell Press, 2007), The ‘Postmodern Turn’ in the Social Sciences (Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2015), Pierre Bourdieu et la distinction sociale. Un essai philosophique (Oxford: Peter Lang, 2016), and The Sociology of Intellectuals: After ‘The Existentialist Moment’ (with Patrick Baert, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2017). Along with Celia Basconzuelo and Teresita Morel, he edited Ciudadanía territorial y movimientos sociales. Historia y nuevas problemáticas en el escenario latinoamericano y mundial (Río Cuarto: Ediciones del ICALA, 2010). Together with Bryan S. Turner, he edited The Legacy of Pierre Bourdieu: Critical Essays (London: Anthem Press, 2011), The Spirit of Luc Boltanski: Essays on the ‘Pragmatic Sociology of Critique’ (London: Anthem Press, 2014), and a Special Issue on the work of Shmuel Noah Eisenstadt, which appeared in the Journal of Classical Sociology 11(3): 229–335, 2011. In addition, he edited a Special Issue on Bourdieu and Language, which was published in Social Epistemology 27(3–4): 195–393, 2013. He is Associate Member of the Bauman Institute and, together with Bryan S. Turner, Editor of the Journal of Classical Sociology.