From 1968 to 1951

How Habermas Transformed Marx into Parsons

Bibliographic Data

ID20070111
AuthorsJohn Holmwood (0000-0002-3440-3524, corresponding author)
Year2009
Pages59-72
Publication date2009-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeCHAPTER
PublisherPalgrave Macmillan UK (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1057/9780230250857_4
OpenAlexW2496041167
ISBN9780230250857
LanguageEN
Citations received8

This paper addresses Habermas's critique of the sociological theory of Talcott Parsons. It treats Habermas as exemplary for a form of critique that sought to utilise Marxian themes in order to overcome what have been widely seen as Parsons' problems in handling issues of conflict and social change. The paper argues that these problems derive from the characteristics of general theory conducted within an action frame of reference. The ambition for this type of theory is something that Habermas shares with Parsons and the paper demonstrates how the elaboration of his own theory comes to converge with that of Parsons and reproduces its problematic features. In conclusion, it is suggested that these problems can only be overcome by rejecting general theory as a mode of sociological theorising

Critical theory · Criticism · Epistemology · Feminism · Political science · Politics · Social movement · Sociology · Status quo · Contemporary Sociological Theory and Practice · Gender Studies · Law · Philosophy · Social and Cultural Dynamics · Weber, Simmel, Sociological Theory

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