A Sociological Agora

Sztompka, Łętowska, Kubik, Fuszara, Zajadło, Skąpska, Kula, Frysztacki, and Polak, all leading figures in contemporary social and humanistic scholarship, engage with the most pressing issues of the 21st century. This work delves into topics critical to modern society such as trust and responsibility, populism versus democracy, emerging social movements, legal interpretations and nihilism, the sense of community, challenges within welfare states, and the role of religious institutions. Originating from a series of master classes held during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, this book captures the exchange of thoughts and experiences among scholars from diverse academic backgrounds and social contexts. "A Sociological Agora" stands as a testament to those committed to shaping a better future for the world.

During the pandemic, the Institute of Sociology at the Jagiellonian University, in cooperation with its Interdisciplinary Center for Socio-Legal Analyses and the Polish Sociological Association, hosted a series of Master Lectures. Held online and accessible to the public, these sessions featured prominent Polish academics who tackled the urgent issues of our era. These scholars, renowned both locally and internationally, specialize in fields such as sociology, law, history, social work, gender studies, philosophy, theology, anthropology, and political science. Each lecture was accompanied by a virtual discussion, with the resulting texts compiled from those gatherings. This online forum transcended geographic and time barriers to connect experts with colleagues and students, facilitating the exchange of ideas and experiences.

Today, we observe the sciences fragmenting into ever-narrower sub-disciplines and specialties, leading to a concerning lack of comprehensive and courageous exploration of our complex issues. There's a strong need for synthesis, a perspective enriched by profound wisdom and extensive knowledge, encouraging openness and sharing our understanding of reality.