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Richard SennettProfessor of Sociology at the London School of Economics
Date of Birth: 01.01.1943
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Richard Sennett: A Centennial Professor of Sociology
- Career and Research
- Urban Studies
- Labor and Class
- Theory and Practice
- Public Engagement
- - He led a United Nations commission on urban development and design.
- Personal Life
Richard Sennett: A Centennial Professor of Sociology
Early Life and EducationRichard Sennett was born into a Jewish family of Russian immigrants in Chicago's Cabrini-Green complex. He initially pursued a career in music, studying cello and conducting under Klaus Adam and Pierre Monteux. However, a hand injury ended his musical aspirations, leading him to pursue academics.
Sennet received his Ph.D. in American Civilization from Harvard University, where he studied under David Riesman, Erik Erikson, and Oscar Handlin. As a Research Fellow at the Joint Center for Urban Studies of Harvard and MIT, he honed his interest in urbanism.
Career and Research
Sennet's research has centered on urban development, the nature of labor in modern society, and the sociology of culture.
Urban Studies
- "The Use of Disorder" examines identity formation in cities.- "The Fall of Public Man" explores public culture and space in London, Paris, and New York during the 18th and 19th centuries.
- "Conscience of the Eye" traces the evolution of Renaissance urban design into modern planning.
- "Flesh and Stone" provides an overview of city design from antiquity to the present.
Labor and Class
- "Hidden Injuries of Class" studies class consciousness among Boston working families.
- "The Corrosion of Character" analyzes how new forms of work are changing our social and personal experiences.
- "Respect" investigates the relationship between work and welfare reform.
- "The Culture of the New Capitalism" offers a comprehensive examination of these changes.
Theory and Practice
- "Authority" is an essay in political theory, exploring the tools of interpretation we use to legitimize or delegitimize power.
- Sennet's ongoing project, "Homo Faber," examines the material ways in which we create culture.
- Books in this series include "The Craftsman" (2008), "Together: The Rituals, Pleasures, and Politics of Cooperation" (2012), and "Building and Dwelling: Ethics for the City" (2018).
Public Engagement
Throughout his career, Sennet has played a pivotal role in public discourse:
- He founded and directed the New York Institute for the Humanities at New York University.
- He led a United Nations commission on urban development and design.
- As President of the American Council on Work, he organized a forum on the changing nature of American labor.
- He helped establish the LSE Cities program at the London School of Economics.
