The Symbol Theory

Download or read book The Symbol Theory written by Norbert Elias and published by SAGE Publications Limited. This book was released on 1991-09-06 with total page 184 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In The Symbol Theory, Norbert Elias draws together three central themes. At the first level the book is concerned with symbols in relation to language, knowing and thinking. Secondly, Elias stresses that symbols are also tangible sound-patterns of human communication, made possible by the evolutionary biological precondition of human vocal apparatus. At a third level, the book addresses theoretical issues about the ontological status of knowledge, moving beyond traditional philosophical dualisms such as subject//object and idealism//materialism. The bulk of The Symbol Theory was published in Vol 6, issues 2, 3 and 4 of Theory, Culture & Society.