The Sociology o f Norbert Elias

Abstract

The present article aims at discussing the basic principles of the sociology of Norbert Elias. Four principles are raised and analyzed: the sociology is about people in plural (figurations); figurations formed by people are continuously flowing; long term developments are mostly unplanned and unpredictable; knowledge development takes place within figurations, and is one of the important aspects of its development. The text is concluded discussing the impor­tance of the empirical work in the sociology of Elias, making possible a theoretical approach of his concepts.