Site of the social : a philosophical account of the constitution of social life and change

1. Social orders 2. Practices 3. The site of the social 4. Becoming and change 5. CODA

The author presents a unique perspective on comprehending the genesis and evolution of social existence, drawing from Heidegger's concept of the clearing of being and Wittgenstein's thoughts on human practice. The perspective he presents here emphasises the importance of the setting in which social activity occurs, known as the "site of the social," which is a fluid and ever-changing combination of practices and material structures. The author's study demonstrates the benefits of this site ontology compared to the standard individualist, holistic, and structuralist theories that have been prevalent in social theory since the mid-nineteenth century. The book uniquely supports its theoretical argument by consistently referring to two historical examples: the therapeutic herb industry of a Shaker village in the 1850s and contemporary day trading on the Nasdaq market. Author initially examines the straightforward lifestyle of the Shakers to highlight fundamental ontological features of the social setting. He then contrasts this with the intricate and ever-changing nature of day trading to demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach as a comprehensive explanation of social existence. He offers fresh perspectives on key topics in social theory, such as social order, agency, the society vs nature distinction, types of social change, and the impact of the current social situation on the future.