Suchergebnisse

Contacts between mathematicians & individuals with econ or pol'al power continue to be difficult. Though it is not generally understood by the public, the same situation holds between soc sci'ts & those mathematicians who are concerned with the applications of non-quantitative mathematics. Res in communications, soc hierarchies, etc, at the present time consist of rigorously defined concepts. When such definitions are used for the study of soc microstructures they make possible the development of a precise, epistemological description of such phenomena as democracy, laissez-faire, & autocracy. Such studies are presently limited to small groups, though it is possible to envision their extension to larger groups which would be of interest to pol'al sci'ts. However, more than simply applying these techniques, it seems esp important to continue to use a methodological principle which has proved to be so fruitful: that is, to define concepts by their relationship to the objects which are studied & in the situation in which they are studied. Tr from IPSA by J. A. Broussard.