Norbert Elias: Process of Civilization and Theory of Sciences

On the Process of Civilisation (alternatively The Civilizing Process) is the English title of the most famous book written by the German-born sociologist Norbert Elias (1897–1990). In this book, Elias investigates in a non-normative way the interconnected development of manners and of social structures in Europe from the end of the Middle Age. The ‘process-sociology’ (alternatively ‘figurational sociology’) that his work inspired is characterized by a long-term historical approach, interested in the multiple aspects of the social life. Crossing disciplinary borders, the study of social processes is also based on cross-cultural comparisons. Process-sociology consequently challenges all forms of reification, notably the fictive methodological opposition between the society and the individual that is at the foundation of individualist and holist approaches. The theory of knowledge advocated by Elias and his followers finally poses questions about the development of the social sciences