Pitirim Sorokin (1889–1968)

Sorokin is not a real sociologist at all but rather a Toynbeean prophet in sheep’s clothing. We enter a realm where the mind ranges freely over subjects as remote from each other, and from any conceivable relation to the ostensible theme of discussion, as the philosophy of Yang Choo and the suicide of Ivar Kreuger. The authors assert that a special problem characteristic of our epoch arises from the alarming circumstances that “the Sensate form of culture which has been dominant in the Western world during the last five centuries is disintegrating,” in consequence of which “Ideologies of John Locke, Rousseau, Marx, and other varieties of democratic, liberal, progressive, conservative, socialist, syndicalist, communist, anarchist ideologies; those of equality, freedom, free enterprise, playing economy, welfare society – all these ideologies which previously inspired are at present about dead.” [1960]… (mere)

Sorokin wrote this book in 1941in the middle of WW2 with Fascist and Communist totalitarianism in full swing. He very oddly identifies this disaster as the climax of decadent (he calls it "sensate") western european civilization, making a long list of trivial populist art, films, materialist cultural values etc.
The answer in his opinion is a return to the true values of a higher religious (he calls it "ideational") life, with man finding a new equilibrium as a noble creation in the image of God (s).
He strangely overlooks the fact that the Fascists and Communists were also claiming to represent higher noble ideals and were equally hard on "decadent" ideas.
In the event, post WW2 western democracy was strengthened so his analysis is simply wrong.
A much more perceptive look at the fragmentation of modern society can be found in Jane Jacobs great book "Systems of Survival", showing the need for both "commercials" (flexible adaptives) and "guardians" (structure protectors) - not all of one or all of the other.… (mere)