The Theory of Action: Talcott Parsons and After

• Authors: Balon Jan
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

This article focuses on the problems and contradictions of sociological theories of action. It investigates critically the development of the theory of action after the Parsonian synthesis, drawing attention to the limitations of articulating the concept of action systematically within a presuppositional framework of analytical theory. Having exposed Parsons general theory of action and some interpretations and criticisms, the paper addresses the so-called 'return of grand theory', spearheaded in the early 1980s by authors such as Alexander, Habermas, Giddens and Luhmann. The article analyses the conceptual innovations introduced by their theories according to Parsons own definition of theoretical work, which - as he said - consists in reconstruction and transformation of categories in the moments of their failure. While it is argued that sociological theory cannot do away with general concepts, it is also argued that these need not have the form of a synthetic theory of action of the kind outlined by Parsons and the Post-Parsonians.

Keywords

EN

ACTION; CONCEPTUAL SCHEME; CONTRADICTION; GENERAL THEORY; PARSONS; SYSTEM; VOLUNTARISM

Discipline

• PHILOSOPHY: PHILOSOPHY

• Publisher: Institute of Philosophy, Czech Academy of Sciences
• Journal: Teorie vědy (Theory of Science)
• Year: 2009
• Volume: 31
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 41-70
• Document type: ARTICLE

Contributors

author

Balon Jan

• Jan Balon, Filosoficky ustav AV CR, Praha, Jilska 1, Praha 1, 110 00, Czech Republic; http://dlib.lib.cas.cz/5949/

Identifiers

CEJSH db identifier

10CZAAAA08339