Air Castles. Iron Cages. To the Genealogy and Phenomenology of the Strength of Social Constructions

Everything or almost everything in society is created by people (or with their direct participation). But for some reason, what arises in this way begins to live its own life and often turns against humans. The reality of society —... and perhaps, the reality of the so-called objective world in general — is, in a way, an "air castle," a construction, a grand phantasmagoria, a stage set. The walls of society are "Potemkin villages built over the abyss of being." But at the same time, society presents itself to the observer as an "iron cage." The stubborn reality of social facts presses and at times crushes to the ground, while the universal play unfolds in the genre of drama (to say the least, tragedy) and often results in rather serious consequences for the actors.
Humans have a tendency to carry the "reality generated" beyond the bounds of consciousness and endow it with qualities of independence; they create something around themselves, becoming dependent on their own creations. The creation separates from the creator, asserting its dominance over him. This process is called alienation. People become tools of their own tools. The metaphor of man and society as "machines that create gods" holds deep meaning. Language and technique, words and things, money and power, institutions and traditions — the "deities" created by humans; and the "gods" always demand a special relationship, they want to be respected and worshiped.
How is this possible and why does it happen? The author of the book attempts to provide a comprehensive, though not exhaustive, answer to this question.
The book is intended for students and graduate students studying social sciences and humanitarian disciplines, philosophers, sociologists, specialists in related fields of knowledge, as well as a broad audience of readers interested in the problems of philosophy and human sciences.
 
The book is intended for students and graduate students studying social sciences and humanitarian disciplines, philosophers, sociologists, specialists in related fields of knowledge, as well as a broad audience of readers interested in the problems of philosophy and human sciences.