Social action systems : foundation and synthesis in sociological theory / Thomas J. Fararo.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 299-312) and index.

Print version record.

English.

Intro -- Preface -- 1. General Theoretical Sociology in Context -- Introduction -- The Historical Phases of Sociological Theory -- The Three Components of Sociological Theory -- Theory Structures and Cognitive Standards -- Summary -- I. Process and Social Reality -- 2. Classical Foundations -- Introduction -- The Structure of Mead's Relational Process Thought -- The Structure of Marx's Relational Process Thought -- Dynamic Networks and the Structure of Durkheim's Thought -- Weber's Social Action Foundations of Sociology -- Form and Process in Simmel's Foundations of Sociology -- Summary -- 3. Foundations of Analytical Realism -- Introduction -- The Common Intellectual Background -- Materialism, Idealism, and Process Philosophy -- Whitehead's Process Philosophy -- Pareto's General Theoretical Sociology -- Summary -- II. Two Postclassical Paths of Synthesis -- 4. The Structural Analysis of Social Action Systems -- Introduction -- Conceptual Schemes -- Positivistic and Idealistic Traditions of Social Theory -- Voluntarism and the Action Frame of Reference -- The Branches of the Theory of Action Systems -- The Problem of Social Order -- Transition to Structural-Functional Theory -- Summary -- 5. The Analytical Theory of Social Systems -- Introduction: The Path Parsons Did Not Take -- Orientation to the Approach -- The Analytical Theory -- The Theory and the System Model -- Conclusions -- 6. A Structural-Functional Theory of Social Systems -- Introduction -- Three Types of Systems -- The Actor-Situation Frame of Reference -- Interpenetration: The Institutionalization of Culture -- Interpenetration: The Internalization of Culture -- The Matching Principle -- The Pattern Variables as Parameters -- Social System Analysis: Complexes -- Social System Analysis: Equilibrium and Stability -- The Integration of Social Systems.

Conclusions: Homans and Parsons on Social Systems -- 7. The Four-Function Paradigm: The Social System Model -- Introduction -- Functional Analysis -- The Functional Analysis of Social Systems -- Complex Social Systems -- Economy and Society -- Symbolic Media Theory -- Summary -- 8. The Four-Function Paradigm: The General Action System Model -- Introduction -- The Functional Analysis of Action Systems -- Control Hierarchy in Action Systems -- Evolutionary Change -- Brief Summary -- Assessment -- 9. The Behavioral Theory of Spontaneous Order: Background and Core Principles -- Introduction -- Background for the Behavioral Theory -- Methodology and Core Ideas -- Five Behavioral Principles -- Bounded Subjective Rationality -- Summary -- 10. The Behavioral Theory of Spontaneous Order: Group Processes -- Introduction -- Social Interaction Processes -- Homans and Durkheim on Explanation -- Summary -- Assessment -- III. Two Strategies in Recent Theoretical Sociology -- 11. The Rational Choice Strategy -- Introduction -- Blau's Recursive Process Theory -- Enter Coleman -- Coleman's Foundations -- The Philosophy of the Rational Choice Approach -- Toward a General Social Equilibrium Theory -- Summary -- Assessment -- Conclusion -- 12. The Generative Structuralist Strategy -- Introduction: The Spirit of Unification -- Generative Models -- Generating Institutionalized Social Action -- Theory Templates and the Spirit of Unification -- Conclusion -- References -- Index.

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