Otto Pipatti

This book is the first comprehensive study of Westermarckian sociology and social anthropology, which flourished in Finland for half a century, until the Second World War. Edward Westermarck (1862–1939) was not only the founder of Finnish sociology but also Britain’s first professor of sociology, influencing and contributing to teaching and research at LSE for nearly three decades. In Finland, a group of disciples shared his Darwinian interest in the human mind and the comparative study of the origins of social phenomena. Like Westermarck, they also conducted extensive ethnographic fieldwork beyond Europe. Many of them became internationally renowned scholars who published their works through leading British publishers. The book traces his influence on British sociology and social anthropology more broadly also by considering his work and students at LSE, who emphasised their debt to Westermarck. Drawing on both published writings and unpublished archival material, the book offersa reinterpretation of ‘origin’ as the Westermarckian school’s core concept.

This book is the first comprehensive study of Westermarckian sociology and social anthropology, which flourished in Finland for half a century, until the Second World War. Edward Westermarck (1862–1939) was not only the founder of Finnish sociology but also Britain’s first professor of sociology, influencing and contributing to teaching and research at LSE for nearly three decades. In Finland, a group of disciples shared his Darwinian interest in the human mind and the comparative study of the origins of social phenomena. Like Westermarck, they also conducted extensive ethnographic fieldwork beyond Europe. Many of them became internationally renowned scholars who published their works through leading British publishers. The book traces his influence on British sociology and social anthropology more broadly also by considering his work and students at LSE, who emphasised their debt to Westermarck. Drawing on both published writings and unpublished archival material, the book offersa reinterpretation of ‘origin’ as the Westermarckian school’s core concept.

Ensimmäinen kokonaisesitys westermarckilaisesta sosiologiasta ja sosiaaliantropologiasta, jotka hallitsivat suomalaista yhteiskuntatutkimusta ennen toista maailmansotaa. Edvard Westermarck (1862-1939) on kautta aikain tunnetuin suomalaistutkija. Hänen kansainvälisesti menestyneet oppilaansa julkaisivat teoksiaan johtavilla brittiläisillä kustantajilla. Kirja avaa Westermarckin ja hänen oppilaidensa lähtökohtia valistusfilosofiassa, evoluutioajattelun eri suuntauksissa ja antropologiassa. Lisäksi se luo kokonaiskuvan westermarckilaisten tutkimusaiheista ja keskinäisistä samankaltaisuuksista ja eroista. Westermarck ja hänen oppilaansa tutkivat sosiaalisten ilmiöiden alkuperää, joka synnyttää ja ylläpitää niitä yhä tänäkin päivänä. Samalla heitä yhdisti kiinnostus sellaisiin käyttäytymistaipumuksiin, jotka ihminen jakaa muiden eläinten kanssa. Suomalaisen sosiologian historia on usein hahmotettu ”vanhan” ja ”modernin” sosiologian välisenä erontekona, jossa vanhentuneet teoriat ja metodit korvautuivat toisen maailmansodan jälkeen uudenlaisilla lähestymistavoilla. Kirja tarkastelee tätä kehityskertomusta kriittisessä valossa ja osoittaa westermarckilaisen perinnön pysyvän arvon nykypäivän tieteellisissä ja yhteiskunnallisissa keskusteluissa.

While highly respected among evolutionary scholars, the sociologist, anthropologist and philosopher Edward Westermarck is now largely forgotten in the social sciences. This book is the first full study of his moral and social theory, focusing on the key elements of his theory of moral emotions as presented in The Origin and Development of the Moral Ideas and summarised in Ethical Relativity. Examining Westermarck’s evolutionary approach to the human mind, the author introduces important new themes to scholarship on Westermarck, including the pivotal role of emotions in human reciprocity, the evolutionary origins of human society, social solidarity, the emergence and maintenance of moral norms and moral responsibility. With attention to Westermarck’s debt to David Hume and Adam Smith, whose views on human nature, moral sentiments and sympathy Westermarck combined with Darwinian evolutionary thinking, Morality Made Visible highlights the importance of the theory of sympathy that lies at the heart of Westermarck’s work, which proves to be crucial to his understanding of morality and human social life. A rigorous examination of Westermarck’s moral and social theory in its intellectual context, this volume connects Westermarck’s work on morality to classical sociology, to the history of evolutionism in the social and behavioural sciences, and to the sociological study of morality and emotions, showing him to be the forerunner of modern evolutionary psychology and anthropology. In revealing the lasting value of his work in understanding and explaining a wide range of moral phenomena, it will appeal to scholars of sociology, anthropology and psychology with interests in social theory, morality and intellectual history.

While highly respected among evolutionary scholars, the sociologist, anthropologist and philosopher Edward Westermarck is now largely forgotten in the social sciences. This book is the first full study of his moral and social theory, focusing on the key elements of his theory of moral emotions as presented in The Origin and Development of the Moral Ideas and summarised in Ethical Relativity. Examining Westermarck’s evolutionary approach to the human mind, the author introduces important new themes to scholarship on Westermarck, including the pivotal role of emotions in human reciprocity, the evolutionary origins of human society, social solidarity, the emergence and maintenance of moral norms and moral responsibility. With attention to Westermarck’s debt to David Hume and Adam Smith, whose views on human nature, moral sentiments and sympathy Westermarck combined with Darwinian evolutionary thinking, Morality Made Visible highlights the importance of the theory of sympathy that lies at the heart of Westermarck’s work, which proves to be crucial to his understanding of morality and human social life. A rigorous examination of Westermarck’s moral and social theory in its intellectual context, this volume connects Westermarck’s work on morality to classical sociology, to the history of evolutionism in the social and behavioural sciences, and to the sociological study of morality and emotions, showing him to be the forerunner of modern evolutionary psychology and anthropology. In revealing the lasting value of his work in understanding and explaining a wide range of moral phenomena, it will appeal to scholars of sociology, anthropology and psychology with interests in social theory, morality and intellectual history.