Existential Sociology, The Sickness Unto Death, and Raisin in the Sun

• In Event: History of Sociology and Social Thought Section Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Roundtable 1: Classical Foundations and Contemporary Critique

Abstract

The paper explores existential sociology and applies concepts concerning consciousness, despair, choice, and authenticity derived from Soren Kierkegaard’s The Sickness unto Death to Lorraine Hansberry’s Raisin in the Sun in an attempt to begin to develop a new form of existential sociology and social psychology derived from a close reading of the founding philosophic texts existentialism. It also addresses the question of the universality of the concepts derived and the need to incorporate structural and intersectional theory.

Author

• David E. Woolwine, Hofstra University