In Custom, Ferdinand Tönnies illustrates the relationship of custom to various aspects of culture, such as religion, gender, and family. Tönnies argues that all social norms are evolved from a basic sense of order, which is largely derived from customs. As such, custom refers to the ideal, and the desirable, and it mediates subjective aspects of social life. Tönnies makes observations in Custom that are just as true today as when they were written over a century ago.
The pivotal idea in Tönnies work is the observation that custom, like its individual counterpart habit, has three distinct aspects: a fact—an actual way of conduct; a norm—a general rule of conduct; and a will. The analysis, extended into the field of collective behavior, helps to explain how far custom can be regarded as a manifestation of a common will.
Custom is a classic contribution in the grand canon of law and society scholarship. Moreover, the volume introduces several key elements of Tönnies’ work focusing on broader sociological thought, which benefits both the theoretical understanding of law as an object of social science reflection, as well as provides empirical insights into the roles of law in society.
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Mathieu Deflem is professor of sociology at the University of South Carolina. His writings on law, theory, and culture have appeared in multiple journals and books.
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