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  • Essay / Sociability Simmel - 547

    The problem of modern leisure has, over the years, been a much debated subject among many sociologists. Sociability, in this case, is one of the most universal forms of leisure that will be discussed in this essay. The theoretical framework for this discussion is provided by the sociological ideas of Georg Simmel (1858-1918), who argues that the "turmoil of the metropolis" (quoted in Frisby 1989, p80) creates internal barriers between people and suggests that the “Sociability” can overcome this problem. According to Frisby (1989), Simmel argues that urban life has transformed the struggle with nature for a living into a struggle with other human beings for gain. This topic is discussed in more detail when Frisby (1989) and Giulianotti (2005) describe how sociability can transcend this problem according to Simmel's theory of sociability. Let's start by defining what sociability is. According to Simmel, sociability is “the pure form, the free and interactive interdependence of individuals” which is “liberated from substance” (Simmel cited in Frisby 1989, p. 87). It is therefore oriented complete...