Society in/and Science: Revisiting the intellectual legacy of Saint-Simon

This paper examines the contribution of Claude-Henri de Saint-Simon (1760-1825) to the birth of sociology and the significance of his ideas in the 21st century debate on the place and value of social sciences in society.  It... [ view full abstract ]

This paper examines the contribution of Claude-Henri de Saint-Simon (1760-1825) to the birth of sociology and the significance of his ideas in the 21st century debate on the place and value of social sciences in society. 

It proceeds in two parts. First, it presents the core ideas of Saint-Simon and the particular context that shaped them in the first half of the nineteenth century. The second part broadens the historical focus and discusses growing challenges facing the social sciences in this early 21st century.