On Counter-Enlightenment, Existential Irony, and Sanctification: Essays in the Sociology of Western Art Musics

Abstract

novel. The book leaves too much to the imagination of the readers to draw their own conclusions. Some ending remarks to summarize the main points would have helped. Again, how do we connect the dots between artisanal ethos and sustainability, from the micro to the macro? That said, the book does offer insight for the future of Japan as well as a deeper understanding of Japanese society and culture. In the age of limits and shrinking population, the pursuit of further economic growth may not be a viable path for Japan. While I was not entirely convinced that the artisanal ethos and ordinary virtues in everyday life were the way forward for Japan, Lie’s inquiry into the ‘‘ordinariness’’ of everyday life is of tremendous value. I was reminded of one of the first teachings in sociology from graduate school—to question the obvious, because we often discover the extraordinary in our ordinary lives.