Georg Simmel Founder of German Sociological Association

Sociology is defined as ‘The study of human social life, groups and societies’ (Giddens, 1989). It involves describing and analysing how different forces such as social, cultural, political, and economic have on behaviour and an individuals identity. (Van Kreiken et al.2000). Furthermore, it encompasses the complex connections on a micro level along with those on a macro level thus enabling sociological imagination.

In the selected passage, the novel describes how to adequately keep a secret hidden from everyone, even yourself. By stating “you must never let it emerge into your consciousness in any shape that could be given a name”, this quote leads to believe that a true secret needs to stay a secret in the depth of a person’s mind. The secret has to stay there in a sort of hibernation, where its keeper has to store it without giving it any thought. In order to successfully keep a secret, it is necessary to not acknowledge the thought of it in the slightest way. However, it is also required of the person to be subconsciously aware of its presence at the same time. This method of keeping a secret appears to be impossible to achieve, since it conveys a

The element of secrecy is evident in the

Georg Simmel along with scholars of his generation were instrumental in providing theories of reasoning to explain human behavior within specified social environments. Georg was a man who was extremely interested in the spiritual aspects of human beings while they experienced life from various positions to include progression of higher levels of spirituality emerging from lower levels. Georg was also fascinated with the natural inevitable experiences of humanity. (Wikipedia. n.d).

Georg Simmel and George Herbert Mead are famously influential sociologists who made significant contributions to the exploration of society, the construction and established theories of society and the way individual people act within a society. Both of the sociologists were interested in the way that people create the society and the laws used to govern from within. Despite the similarity of the subject studied, the scientist took very different approaches in their research and beliefs. I’ve even heard of them referenced as the “ying and yang of sociology”. Mead is considered the paradigm of symbolic interaction using a pragmatic approach in his research, Simmel focuses on duality and is often referred to as one of the founders of

Georg Simmel and Max Weber will first be addressed individually to outline their lives and their works. Even though Simmel and Weber both were born in the same country, they led different lives. The obvious differences among Simmel and Weber are seen in their younger years of their lives. While their works are different, they may have been working for a similar result. Simmel and Weber are now considered to have made an historic impact in the sociological world. Their individual contribution to the sociological work has been significant and will be discussed in sociology classes forever. This paper will outline the differences and similarities of Georg Simmel and Max Weber.

Others may say, secrets must be kept because they can hurt people. In an article by Irene Van, says that you can keep secrets about family and friends. Irene Van says, “ Gossip about family or friends unless this is about something that worries you, in / which case you should tell a adult you trust” (Van.II). This proves that, Irene Van believes that secrets about family and friends should be kept because it can really hurt your friends feelings. Second, this could be true because if I tell my friend one of my secrets, I trust this person. If he or she is going to go and tell my secret to someone, I am not going to tell he/she any secrets. However, on the other hand, in the same article Irene Van says that any kind of touch should not be kept as a secret. Irene Van says, “ Secrets that are not safe to keep:/ Any kind of touch” (Van.II). First, I would tell my parents if this happens to me because if I tell this secret to my friends, and they spread it, it would hurt me. Second, this can lead to more problems if I kept this as a secret from my parents because, the same thing will continue if I don’t take

Confidentiality: Is not sharing verbal/ written information without permission, also not discussing one individual with another.

The basis of human relationships are the formation of secrets. Secrets build the trust that people have with each other in their relationships. A common complication with human relationships is with whom and when to share a secret. People confide in others when something becomes stressful or interesting with the hopes of relieving stress or sharing excitement. One person sharing a secret commonly turns into a domino effect and many times confidence is broken because the information is unknowingly shared. Holding a secret from people can push loved ones away. Laura Van Den Berg uses quest and geography in her short story, “Antarctica,” to reveal her message that keeping secrets will result in a person being isolated.

The study of sociology brings people to view topics in a unique way than others. The way we see the world, human behavior, as well as its connection to society from an outside point of view is called social imagination or perception. The sociological imagination “searches for the link between micro and macro levels of analysis,” a concept that basically says that a person lives

Secrets don’t need to be shared - everyone needs to keep them “under their hats”. There are many expressions people use that aren’t meant to be taken literally. “‘Keep it under your hat’... ‘I don’t wear a hat’...” (Weir 199)

“Understanding a secret” A secret can be confessing a lie WITHOUT PROMPTING or a sharing misdeed they have done in the past. The confession must be said on their own volition and out of regret”.

According to The Promise of Sociology by C. Wright Mills, “sociological imagination is a special way to engage the world and to think sociologically is to realize that we experience as personal problems are often widely share by others like ourselves” (p.1). What C. Wright Mills is trying to get across about the meaning of sociological imagination is that a person is somewhat connected to each other because of what they are both experiencing. An example of this is when there is an event that a lot of people, their families are all experiencing the same feeling, which is grief for the loss of loved ones but there are not connected to each other. This is what C. Wright Mills means about sociological imagination that even though two people are not related to each other, they can both experience the same feelings or problems. Also, as time and days go by, a person can experience confusion or positive and negative events in his or her life that can affect that person’s mood or emotions. These feelings will aid the person to improve and know his or her purpose in society. In addition, as the person will endure and experience all of these emotions and feelings, the person will undoubtedly encounter other people who share the same feelings, values, and emotions that he or she is experiencing and may come to realize that each individual is interconnected in some way, either by experience or emotions.

“Simon,” Larry says, “we are good friends; I consider it to be my duty to tell you that I have found a letter in your late father’s poetry book, indicating that he has had an affair.” Some of us will try to avoid coming face-to-face with our friend about such a gut-wrenching reality by keeping this distressing information a secret. Some of us will tell the truth for the moral sake of doing so, or because it can serve a purpose and actually prove to be mutually beneficial. Revealing sensitive or private information to someone is risky, but the philosophers Saint Augustine, Saint Thomas Aquinas, and Immanuel Kant can agree that Larry would be doing a moral thing by informing Simon of his father’s infidelity.

Georg Simmel (1858 - 1918) was living in Berlin at a time when Sociology was beginning to form as a science, most notably with the work of Comte setting up the positivist methodology of studying society. In the intellectual world he was an outsider and struggled, becoming a full professor without a chair only in 1901.