Abstract

This essay explores the idea of 'the end of society'. The eigtheenth century's 'discovery' (or rather invention) of society, the author claims, was based on a double fiction. First of all it was founded on the fiction that humans, and humans only can have social, interactions (whereas animals and things should be radically excluded from social: spade). Secondly, it was based on the fiction that society is a transparent entity, populated by knowledgeable actors and, in principle, understandable by everbody. Elaborating some ideas of Touraine, Baurnan, Vattimo and Knorr Cetina the author concludes that both fictions are quickly eroding, tip to the point that the notion of 'society' itself is becoming obsolete.

How to Cite:

Weyns, W., (2004) “Het tijdperk van de maatschappij”, Tijdschrift voor Sociologie 25(2), 247–271. doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/sociologos.86608