Counter-interpretations of failure from literature, sociology, and social philosophy

Jocelyn Pixley

doi:10.4324/9780429355950-27

Counter-interpretations of failure from literature, sociology, and social philosophy

Jocelyn Pixley^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

Abstract

This chapter takes a divergent view compared to commonsensical notions of failure. What is success? Tennessee Williams said success is a 'catastrophe' in the USA, since it means great wealth, luxury and inequalities. Sociologist Robert Merton analysed this US assumption of success, calling it anomie, the acquisitiveness of a 'sick' society. Social philosophers favoured hermeneutics and sociology of knowledge, greatly supported by feminists and blacks. Orthodox economics sealed itself off, claiming the status of natural science, somewhat similar to postmodern individualist opinions. This rejection of social sciences was shown to be 'physics envy' but which served banking and corporate interests. It legitimated mass depressions and thus serious failures, the author's evidence demonstrates.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Routledge international handbook of failure
Editors	Adriana Mica, Mikołaj Pawlak, Anna Horolets, Paweł Kubicki
Place of Publication	London ; New York
Publisher	Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group
Chapter	22
Pages	313-329
Number of pages	17
ISBN (Electronic)	9781000775648
ISBN (Print)	9780367404048, 9781032371047
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429355950-27
Publication status	Published - 2023

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10.4324/9780429355950-27

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Counter-interpretations of failure from literature, sociology, and social philosophy. / Pixley, Jocelyn.
Routledge international handbook of failure. ed. / Adriana Mica; Mikołaj Pawlak; Anna Horolets; Paweł Kubicki. London ; New York: Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group, 2023. p. 313-329.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

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Counter-interpretations of failure from literature, sociology, and social philosophy

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