ABSTRACT
For John Carroll, the major problem of modernity is that it is 'metaphysically precarious'. Carroll has proposed that a metaphysical sociology should focus on how societies grapple with the fundamental existential questions that confront all human. He has been a frequent writer of essays for popular literary journals. This collection of essays provides a critical survey of Carroll's metaphysical sociology, while also expanding the project into new areas. This chapter familiarises the reader with Carroll's approach, while outlining his major themes. Carroll's published works and lectures present a distinctive vision of the history of the West and its cultural implications. This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the preceding chapters of this book. Carroll has written two pieces for this book: an introductory essay and a response to the other contributors.
