Herman Schmalenbach (1885-1950), a friend of Husserl and a scholarly critic of Tönnies and Weber, carried on the tradition of Georg Simmel and ranks as one of the most important representatives of phenomenological society. However, because of historical and political circumstances, Schmalenbach's writings have received little attention either in his native Germany or abroad. Now Günther Lüschen and Gregory P. Stone have provided the first English translations of some of Schmalenbach's most important works. In their introductory essay to this collection, the editors appraise Schmalenbach as scholar, philosopher, and sociologist.

Günther Lüschen is professor of sociology at the University of Illinois. Gregory P. Stone is professor of sociology at the University of Minnesota.