Georges Friedmann
Encyclopedia
Georges Philippe Friedmann (Paris, 1902-id. 1977), French Sociologist.
Georges Friedmann was the founder of a human work sociology
after World War II
. In 1921, after studying industrial chemistry
, he entered a teacher training college on the rue d'Ulm, in Paris
, France
. During the war, he was an intellectual Marxist
and close to the communist party
. Friedmann devoted the majority of his work to the study of relationships between man and machine in industrial societies in the first half of the 20th century.
In 1931, he approached the problems posed by work and techniques.
In 1946, his thesis Problems of Industrial Mechanization, introduced the new sociology of work to France. At this time, sociology had already been made known and was recognized both in France by Friedmann, and overseas by his American
peers. However, Friedmann's journey and work exceeded this unique sociology identity of work by along way.
In 1960, he explored a different field of technical culture: communications and mass culture.
Friedmann's forte as a great organizer and initiator of research was seen during the time he headed the Center for Sociological Studies (CNRS).
During the rise of Fascism
in 1930, Georges Friedmann, like certain other individuals of his time, wondered about the Soviet
experience. He learned to speak Russian
at the Institute of Oriental Languages, and between 1932 and 1936 made many trips to the USSR. From these travels he drew two works, in which he expressed his support for the then-current regime in Moscow
.
With the declaration of war and signing of the German-Soviet Pact, Friedmann, with Jean Cassou
at his side, engaged in resistance
. Friedmann became a man of action. In 1987, ten years after his death, Friedmann's War Journal, recounting his experiences as a member of the reisistance, was published.
After World War II, Friedmann, along with other travellers such as Vercors
, Jean Cassou, and André Chamson
, drafted an account of travellers to, and sympathizers of, the USSR. The account, written in 1946, was entitled The Hour of Choice, and was published in 1947. The account can be summarized briefly by the following sentence: "The USSR was an example, but not a model."
and Spinoza
, Friedmann wrote his moral and philosophical reflections on the future of a technical civilization in Power and Wisdom, which was published in 1970.
"Le Sage et notre siècle," Revue de Synthèse 99 (1978)
Georges Friedmann was the founder of a human work sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In 1921, after studying industrial chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
, he entered a teacher training college on the rue d'Ulm, in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. During the war, he was an intellectual Marxist
Marxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
and close to the communist party
Communist party
A political party described as a Communist party includes those that advocate the application of the social principles of communism through a communist form of government...
. Friedmann devoted the majority of his work to the study of relationships between man and machine in industrial societies in the first half of the 20th century.
Biography
Friedmann's work, like Work in Crumbs (1956), was often reduced to be presented as a sociology of work.In 1931, he approached the problems posed by work and techniques.
In 1946, his thesis Problems of Industrial Mechanization, introduced the new sociology of work to France. At this time, sociology had already been made known and was recognized both in France by Friedmann, and overseas by his American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
peers. However, Friedmann's journey and work exceeded this unique sociology identity of work by along way.
In 1960, he explored a different field of technical culture: communications and mass culture.
Friedmann's forte as a great organizer and initiator of research was seen during the time he headed the Center for Sociological Studies (CNRS).
During the rise of Fascism
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
in 1930, Georges Friedmann, like certain other individuals of his time, wondered about the Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
experience. He learned to speak Russian
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
at the Institute of Oriental Languages, and between 1932 and 1936 made many trips to the USSR. From these travels he drew two works, in which he expressed his support for the then-current regime in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
.
With the declaration of war and signing of the German-Soviet Pact, Friedmann, with Jean Cassou
Jean Cassou
Jean Cassou was a French writer, art critic, poet and member of the French Resistance during World War II.- Biography :Jean Cassou was born at Deusto, near Bilbao,...
at his side, engaged in resistance
French Resistance
The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
. Friedmann became a man of action. In 1987, ten years after his death, Friedmann's War Journal, recounting his experiences as a member of the reisistance, was published.
After World War II, Friedmann, along with other travellers such as Vercors
Jean Bruller
Jean Marcel Bruller was a French writer and illustrator who co-founded Les Éditions de Minuit with Pierre de Lescure and Yvonne Paraf. During the World War II occupation of northern France he joined the Resistance and his texts were published under the pseudonym Vercors.Several of his novels have...
, Jean Cassou, and André Chamson
André Chamson
André Chamson was a French archivist, novelist and essayist. He was the father of the novelist Frédérique Hébrard.-Life:Chamson was born at , Nîmes, Gard....
, drafted an account of travellers to, and sympathizers of, the USSR. The account, written in 1946, was entitled The Hour of Choice, and was published in 1947. The account can be summarized briefly by the following sentence: "The USSR was an example, but not a model."
Philosophy
George Friedmann, throughout his life, always took care to maintain the bonds between sociology and great Western metaphysical philosophy. As a great reader of LeibnizGottfried Leibniz
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz was a German philosopher and mathematician. He wrote in different languages, primarily in Latin , French and German ....
and Spinoza
Baruch Spinoza
Baruch de Spinoza and later Benedict de Spinoza was a Dutch Jewish philosopher. Revealing considerable scientific aptitude, the breadth and importance of Spinoza's work was not fully realized until years after his death...
, Friedmann wrote his moral and philosophical reflections on the future of a technical civilization in Power and Wisdom, which was published in 1970.
Works
La Puissance et la Sagesse (Paris, 1970)"Le Sage et notre siècle," Revue de Synthèse 99 (1978)