Description
Book Synopsis* Provides a convincing exploration of a central theme of our times: human suffering. The author writes well; his remarks on the brute fact of suffering are very powerfully made. * There are no real rivals to this book, since until its publication there had been no really systematic sociological theorisation of pain and suffering.
Trade Review"At last here is a serious attempt to move beyond mere 'decorative social theory' to engage in a highly sensitive and intelligent manner with a central aspect of the human condition. Dr Wilkinson's brave and timely book should be read not just by all students of sociological theory but also by those many thoughtful people who are pained , angry or bemused by man's inhumaity to man."
—Professor Ray Pahl, University of EssexTable of ContentsPreface and Acknowledgements.
1 Introduction: Suffering, Social Science and the Challenge to Sociology.
2 What is Suffering?
3 Our Classical Heritage.
4 Social Suffering: A Critical Appraisal.
5 The Problem of Suffering and our Feeling for Humanity.
6 Mediatized Suffering: Prospects for the Internationalisation of Conscience.
7 Towards a Critical Sociology of Suffering.
References.
Index.
