ACTION THEORY
Action theory is a sociological perspective that focuses on the
individual as a subject and views social action as something purposively shaped by
individuals within a context to which they have given meaning.
This approach has its foundations in Max Weber's ‘interpretive sociology’ which claims that it is
necessary to know the subjective purpose and intent of the actor before an observer can
understand the meaning of social action.
Those sociologists who focus on ‘action’ tend to treat the
individual as an autonomous subject, rather than as constrained by social structure and
culture. As a subject, the individual is seen as exercising agency, voluntarism, giving
meaning to objects and events and acting with intent.
While Max Weber insisted on the power of society and historical context
in giving shape to human action, some sociologists adopting action theory have been
accused of neglecting the influence of social structure and culture on people's behaviour.
Rational action theory for sociology - lse.ac.uk/serials/Bjs/Rat298.htm
John H. Goldthorpe - British Journal of Sociology - Volume 49 Issue No. 2 June l998
Abstract: Rational action theory (RAT) is not a highly unified intellectual entity. In the
first part of the paper, varieties of RAT are distinguished in terms of three criteria:
i.e. according to whether they (i) have strong rather than weak rationality requirements;
(ii) focus on situational rather than procedural rationality; (iii) claim to provide a
general rather than a special theory of action. In the second part, these same criteria
are applied in a consideration of which version of RAT holds out most promise for use in
sociology.
Practical Reason: On the Theory of Action - by Pierre Bourdieu, Randal
Johnson (Translator)
Joas, Hans The Creativity of Action. Translated by Jeremy Gaines and Paul Keast.
x, 336 p. 1997- press.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/hfs.cgi/00/13263.ctl
Hans Joas is one of the foremost social theorists in Germany today. Based on Joas's
celebrated study of George Herbert Mead, this work reevaluates the contribution of
American pragmatism and European philosophical anthropology to theories of action in the
social sciences. Joas also establishes direct ties between Mead's work and approaches
drawn from German traditions of philosophical anthropology. Joas argues for adding a third
model of action to the two predominant models of rational and normative action--one that
emphasizes the creative character of human action. This model encompasses the other two,
allowing for a more comprehensive theory of action. Joas elaborates some implications of
his model for theories of social movements and social change and for the status of action
theory in sociology in the face of competition from theories advanced by Luhmann and
Habermas.
The problem of action is of crucial importance in both sociology and philosophy, and this
book--already widely debated in Germany--will add fresh impetus to the lively discussions
current in the English-speaking world.
Table of Contents
Preface
Introduction
1: The Emergence of the Theory of Action
1.1: The Beginnings: Parsons' Attempt at Synthesis
1.2: The Debate with Parsons: Rehistoricizing the Convergence Thesis
1.3: Economic and Social Action
1.4: Weber's Theory of Charisma and the Problem of Creativity
1.5: The Problem of the Emergence of a New Morality as the Underlying Theme in Durkheim's
Work
1.6: Elements of the Philosophy of Life in the Work of Ferdinand Tonnies and George Simmel
2: Metaphors of Creativity
2.1: Expression
2.2: Production
2.3: Revolution
2.4: Life
2.5: Intelligence and Reconstruction
3: Situation - Corporeality - Sociality: The Fundamentals of a Theory of the Creativity of
Action
3.1: A Non-Teleological Interpretation of the Intentionality of Action
3.2: The Constitution of the Body Schema
3.3: Primary Sociality
4: Creative Democracy
4.1: Creativity and Collective Action
4.2: Beyond Functionalism
4.3: Differentiation and Democratization: Perspectives for a Non-Functionalist Theory of
Social Development
4.4: Creativity in the 'Postmodern' Age
|