Review article

Georg Simmel’s Selection Theory

Marko Škorić orcid.org/0000-0002-4019-2807 ; University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Philosophy, Novi Sad, Serbia

Abstract

In the first part of his career Georg Simmel wrote a short text about selection theory, which never reached popularity of his better known sociological publications. In it he employed evolutionary theory and pragmatism, which he later abandoned in favor of formal sociology. Based on that paper Simmel could be considered as one of the founders of selection theory, i. e. evolutionary epistemology. In this paper it is argued that selection theory does not need to imply relativism, as Simmel thought, and that hypothetical realism is a consequence of evolutionary processes. Also, it is shown that selection theory must take into account social processes if it wants to be relevant.

Keywords

Georg Simmel; evolutionary epistemology/selection theory; realism; relativism; truth

Hrčak ID:

111204

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/111204

Publication date:

24.9.2013.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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