Origins & Early Life

Karl Mannheim (born Károly Manheim, 27 March 1893 – 9 January 1947) was a Hungarian sociologist and a key figure in classical sociology as well as one of the founders of the sociology of knowledge. Mannheim is best known for his book Ideology and Utopia (1929/1936), in which he distinguishes between partial and total ideologies, the latter representing comprehensive worldviews distinctive to particular social groups, and also between ideologies that provide support for existing social arrangements, and utopias, which look to the future and propose a transformation of society. Karl Mannheim was born 27 March 1893 in Budapest, to a Hungarian father, a textile merchant, and German mother, both of Jewish descent. His early education was in that city, he studied philosophy and literature at the University of Budapest, though he also went to Berlin (where he studied with Georg Simmel) and Paris to further his education, returning to Hungary around the start of the First World War.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He obtained a PhD from the University of Budapest, and further qualifications from the University of Heidelberg. During the War he was involved...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Bai Chongxi — Contemporary (Born in 1893) (1893): Prominent Chinese military general and KMT leader who ruled Guangxi province.
• Chaïm Soutine — Contemporary (Born in 1893) (1893): Belarusian-Jewish Expressionist painter of the School of Paris, known for raw emotional texture.
• Claire Lee Chennault — Contemporary (Born in 1893) (1893): Pioneering American aviator, famed for leading the 'Flying Tigers' in WWII.
• Al Capone — Contemporary (Died in 1947) (1947): Notorious American gangster and businessman during the Prohibition era.
• Alan Guth — Contemporary (Born in 1947) (1947): Pioneering cosmologist known for developing the theory of cosmic inflation.
• Alan Sugar — Contemporary (Born in 1947) (1947): Pioneering British entrepreneur, founder of Amstrad, and TV personality.
• Ahmed Zaki (actor) — Shared historical date (03-27 · Died) (2005): Iconic Egyptian actor celebrated for intense dramatic performances.
• Alfred de Vigny — Shared historical date (03-27 · Born) (1797): French poet and early Romanticist, known for his plays and novels.
• Adrien-Marie Legendre — Shared historical date (01-09 · Died) (1833): Pioneering French mathematician known for Legendre polynomials and least squares method.
• Alvah Curtis Roebuck — Shared historical date (01-09 · Born) (1864): Co-founder of Sears, Roebuck and Company, pioneering American retail businessman.
• 1893 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1893
• March 27 (03-27) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on March 27
• 1947 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1947
• January 9 (01-09) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on January 9