Editing Georg Simmel (section)

==Theory==
There are four basic levels of concern in Simmel's work:

# The [[psychological]] workings of social life 
# The [[sociological]] workings of [[interpersonal relationship]]s.
# The structure of and changes in ''[[zeitgeist]]'' (i.e. the social and cultural "spirit") of his time. He would also adopt the principle of ''[[emergentism]]'', the idea that higher levels of conscious properties emerge from lower levels.
# The nature and inevitable [[fate]] of humanity.

===Dialectical method===

A [[dialectic]]al approach is a multicausal and multidirectional method: it focuses on social relations; integrates facts and value, rejecting the idea that there are hard and fast dividing lines between social phenomena; looks not only at the present, but also at the past and future; and is deeply concerned with both conflicts and contradictions. Simmel's sociology was concerned with relationships—especially interaction—and was thus known as a {{Wikt-lang|en|methodological}} ''[[Relationalism|relationalist]]''. This approach is based on the idea that interactions exist between everything.<ref name="ritzer" /> Overall, Simmel would be mostly interested in [[Mind–body dualism|dualisms]], [[Conflict (process)|conflicts]], and [[contradiction]]s in whatever realm of the social world he happened to be working on.<ref name="ritzer" />

=== Forms of association ===
The furthest Simmel has brought his work to a [[Microsociology|micro-level]] of analysis was in dealing with forms and interactions that takes place with different types of people. Such forms would include ''subordination'', ''superordination'', ''exchange'', ''conflict'' and ''sociability''.<ref name="ritzer">{{cite book|author=Ritzer|first=George|title=Modern Sociological Theory|publisher=McGraw–Hill|year=2007|isbn=978-0073404103|edition=7th|place=New York|ref=Ritzer|author-link=George Ritzer}}</ref>{{rp|158–88}}

Simmel focused on these forms of [[Social relation|association]] while paying little attention to individual consciousness. Simmel believed in the ''creative [[consciousness]]'' that can be found in diverse forms of interaction, which he observed both the ability of actors to create [[social structure]]s, as well as the disastrous effects such structures had on the creativity of individuals. Simmel also believed that social and cultural structures come to have a life of their own.<ref name="ritzer" />

====Sociability====
Simmel refers to "all the forms of association by which a mere sum of separate individuals are made into a 'society'," whereby ''society'' is defined as a "higher unity," composed of individuals.<ref name="ritzer" />{{rp|157}}

Simmel would especially be fascinated by man's "impulse to sociability," whereby "the solitariness of the individuals is resolved into togetherness," referring to this unity as "the free-playing, interacting interdependence of individuals."<ref name="ritzer" />{{rp|157–8}} Accordingly, he defines ''sociability'' as "the play-form of association" driven by "amicability, breeding, cordiality and attractiveness of all kinds."<ref name="ritzer" />{{rp|158}} In order for this free association to occur, Simmel explains, "the personalities must not emphasize themselves too individually...with too much abandon and aggressiveness."<ref name="ritzer" />{{rp|158}} Rather, "this world of sociability...a democracy of equals" is to be without friction so long as people blend together in the spirit of pleasure and bringing "about among themselves a pure interaction free of any disturbing material accent."<ref name="ritzer" />{{rp|159}}

Simmel describes idealised interactions in expressing that "the vitality of real individuals, in their sensitivities and attractions, in the fullness of their impulses and convictions...is but a symbol of life, as it shows itself in the flow of a lightly amusing play," adding that "a symbolic play, in whose [[Aesthetics|aesthetic]] charm all the finest and most highly sublimated dynamics of social existence and its riches are gathered."<ref name="ritzer" />{{rp|162–3}}

===Social geometry===
In a dyad (i.e. a two-person group), a person is able to retain their individuality as there is no fear that another may shift the balance of the group. In contrast, triads (i.e. three-person groups) risk the potential of one member becoming subordinate to the other two, thus threatening their individuality. Furthermore, were a triad to lose a member, it would become a dyad.

The basic nature of this dyad-triad principle forms the essence of structures that form society. As a group (structure) increases in size, it becomes more isolated and segmented, whereby the individual also becomes further separated from each member. In respect to the notion of "group size", Simmel's view was somewhat ambiguous. On one hand, he believed that the individual benefits most when a group gets bigger and exerting control on the individual becomes harder. On the other hand, with a large group there is a possibility of the individual's becoming distant and impersonal. Therefore, in an effort for the individual to cope with the larger group they must become a part of a smaller group such as the family.<ref name="ritzer" />

The value of something is determined by the distance from its actor. In "[[The Stranger (essay)|The Stranger]]", Simmel discusses how if a person is too close to the actor they are not considered a stranger. If they are too far, however, they would no longer be a part of a group. The particular distance from a group allows a person to have objective relationships with different group members.<ref name="ritzer" />