Ágnes Heller’s sociology of everyday life: Importance and validity for contemporary social studies

Abstract

In this paper I present a critical interpretation of Ágnes Heller’s sociological thought, I focus on her studies of «everyday life». I begin with an approach to her research and historically contextualize of her writings, I delimit the works that I am going to study, specifically her texts where she reflects on the everyday. I conclude that the study of «everyday life» is one of Heller’s central concerns, I suggest that it is of radical importance to deepen and recontextualize her research for the understanding of our contemporary societies. I mention some problems that I consider valid for our time and I suggest some questions which inspire me from her work. In the development of my writing I observe Heller’s reinterpretation of Marx, her separation from the Soviet communism, from the socialism of her country and from the orthodox Marxist thought which dominated in her time, I highlight the relationship between her personal experiences and her theoretical problems.