Aron, Raymond

Aron, Raymond (-Claude-Ferdinand)

(born 1905—died 1983) French sociologist and historian. After receiving his doctorate from the École Normale Supérieure (1930), he taught at the University of Toulouse until 1939. During World War II he joined the Free French and edited their newspaper (1940–44). He later taught at the École Nationale d'Administration, the Sorbonne, and the Collège de France. He was also a columnist for Le Figaro (1947–77) and L'Express (1977–83). Aron upheld a rationalist humanism that was often contrasted with the Marxist existentialism of his great contemporary and former classmate Jean-Paul Sartre. A continuing theme in his writings was the subject of violence and war.

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Aron, Raymond 

Born Mar. 14, 1905, in Paris. French sociologist, ideologist for the right wing of the liberal bourgeoisie. Participant in the resistance movement. Political editor and reviewer for the newspaper Figaro since 1947. Director of the department of sociology at the Sorbonne since 1956. Member of the Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques since 1963.

In his works on philosophy, history, and sociology, Aron has preached extreme historical relativism and presentism; in later works these trends have been combined, in a somewhat milder form, with comparative-historical analysis and economic determinism. He is one of the founders of the theory of a so-called single industrial society. He believes that a single technological and economic base does not exclude serious differences in the social and political structures of countries. In a number of works he has sought to provide a theoretical justification for anticommunism; he has attempted to prove the obsolescence of Marxism under the present conditions and to deny the liberating role of the working class. He is an advocate of a strengthened North Atlantic alliance. In recent years he has favored peaceful coexistence between the two social systems.

WORKS

Introduction a la philosophie de I’histoire, new ed. [Paris, 1967.]
L’opium des intellectuels. [Paris,] 1968.
Dimensions de la conscience historique. Paris, [1961].
Dix-huit teçons sur la société industrielle. Paris, 1962.
La lutte des classes. Paris, 1964.
Essai sur les libertés. Paris, 1966.
Trois essais sur l’âge industriel. Paris, 1966.
Les étapes de la pensée sociologique. Paris, 1967.
Les désillusions du progrés. Paris, 1969.

E. A. ARAB-OGLY