Agency and Structure: Reorienting Social TheoryA striking feature of the human condition is its dual, contradictory, inherently split character; on the one hand, autonomy and freedom; on the other, constraint and dependence on social structure. This volume addresses this central problem of the linkage between human action and social structure in sociological and social science theory. Contributions cover several different approaches to the agency-structure problematic, and represent the work of a number of leading international sociologists. Their efforts point to a reorientation of social theory, both on philosophical and methodological levels. |
Contents
TWO Evolving Focus on Human Agency in Contemporary Social Theory | |
Durkheim and Weber | |
Miguel Cainzos | |
Franco Crespi | |
and Theoretical Orientations in Contemporary French Sociology | |
Continuities in | |
Rational Choice Theory | |
Beyond Individualism and Collectivism | |
TEN Sociology as a Discipline of Disagreements and as a Paradigm | |
Other editions - View all
Agency and Structure (RLE Social Theory): Reorienting Social Theory Piotr Sztompka Limited preview - 2014 |
Common terms and phrases
action and interaction actors agency-structure analysis analytical approach Archer basic behavior Boudon Bourdieu causal collective concept constitution contemporary context critical critique cultural decision defined dimension Durkheim E. P. Thompson economic equilibrium experience explanation forms Foucault game theory Giddens hermeneutics historical sociology holism human action human agency identity individualistic institutions interaction situation interpretation judgment systems Laclau and Mouffe logic macro Marxism Max Weber meaning metatheories methodological individualism micro-macro models modern morphogenesis norms objective objectivized ontological organization orientation outcomes Paris particular patterns perspective phenomena philosophy Piotr Sztompka political post-Marxism postmodernism postmodernist problem Przeworski rational choice rational choice theory reductionism relationism relations role sense social action social agents social movements social reality social relationships social science social structure social theory social wholes society sociological theory sociologists sociology specific strategy structuralist Sztompka theoretical theorists theory of social Thompson Touraine tradition transformation values Weber