Suchergebnisse

An outline for a sociological theory of postmodernity is presented that considers it as the fully developed form of modernity, not just an aberrant variant, but a viable, pragmatically, & logically self-contained social condition defined by distinctive features of it own (ie, institutionalized pluralism, variety, ambivalence, & contingency). It is argued that a sociological theory of postmodernity must: refuse the temptation to erect totalizing systems of thought; focus on the habitat in which agency operates; recognize that agents are only partly, if at all, constrained in their pursuit of interests; & show concern for the way that actors self-constitute themselves in the absence of coercive structures & absolute truths. Postmodern ethics & politics are also discussed. It is concluded that to effectively capture the essence of postmodernity, sociology must conceive itself as social & cultural interpreter, rather than social legislator or engineer, which will require a high degree of reflexivity. W. Howard

Cover -- Half Title -- Title -- Copyright -- Dedication -- Contents -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction -- Dimension One Units of Analysis -- 1 The Individual vs Social Facts -- John Stuart Mill -- Emile Durkheim -- Conclusion -- Further Reading -- 2 Interaction and the Return of Reductionism -- Georg Simmel -- Alfred Schutz -- George Homans -- Peter Blau -- James Coleman -- Conclusion -- Further Reading -- Dimension Two Modes of Explanation -- 3 Explaining Social Life -- Positivism: Emile Durkheim -- Functionalism: Emile Durkheim, Robert Merton and Talcott Parsons -- Interpretive Understanding: Max Weber -- Conclusion -- Further Reading -- Dimension Three Key Factors -- 4 Key Factors of Social Evolution -- Karl Marx -- Talcott Parsons -- Jürgen Habermas -- Conclusion -- Further Reading -- Dimension Four Sociological Knowledge -- 5 Sociology and Ideology -- Karl Mannheim -- Michel Foucault -- Dorothy Smith -- Conclusion -- Further Reading -- Dimension Five Structure and Agency -- 6 Social Structure and its Alternatives -- Robin Williams -- Mary O'Brien -- Herbert Blumer -- Erving Goffman -- Conclusion -- Further Reading -- 7 New Ideas on Structure and Agency -- Pierre Bourdieu -- Anthony Giddens -- Zygmunt Bauman -- Conclusion -- Further Reading -- Conclusion -- References -- Index.