Talcott Parsons and the Theory of Action. II. The Continuity of the Development

In The Structure of Social Action, Talcott Parsons developed a theory of action which corresponds in structure and method to Kant's critical philosophy. The core of this theory is the assertion that every action is to be understood as a product of the interaction of dynamizing and controlling forces. This basic proposition is elaborated into a theory through the construction of a four-dimensional "action space," which can be further differentiated into subsystems possessing varying degrees of orderedness. The differential effect of dynamizing and ordering forces on any given action is determined by its locationin the action space and by the kind of relation obtaining between the subsystemsof the action space. The relation between these subsystems which enables them simultaneously to expand their areas of effectiveness is interpenetration. The entire development of Talcott Parsons's theory of action is a progressive refinement of the theoretical devices available for the analysis of such processes of interpenetration. This is demonstrated in this essay for all the various stages of Parsons's theoretical development, from the laying down of thetheoretical core in The Structure of Social Action (1937) through The Social System (1951) to Action Theory and the Human Condition (1978

Action (physics · Action theory (sociology · Assertion · Development (topology · Epistemology · Mathematical analysis · Physics · Proposition · Quantum mechanics · Relation (database · Space (punctuation) · Complex Systems and Decision Making · Computer Science · Critical Realism in Sociology · Management and Organizational Studies · Mathematics · Philosophy

• Exploring an extinct society through the lens of Habitus-Field theory and the Tocharian text corpus

  Open Access•Oliver Wieczorek, Melanie Malzahn•Humanities and Social Sciences…•2024

  Incluir item

• Deciphering cultural differences between local and foreign contracting firms using Hofstede’s national culture model in the construction industry

  Open Access•Franco Muleya, Chipozya Kosta Tembo et al.•Social Sciences & Humanities Open•2023

  Incluir item

• Power and Authority in Organized Religion

  Richard A Schoenherr•Sociological Analysis•1987

  Incluir item

• Puritan America in the Modern World

  Edward A Tiryakian•Sociological Analysis•1982

  Incluir item

• Socialization and Personality Development From the Point of View of Action Theory, the Legacy of Emile Durkheim

  Open Access•Richard Muench•Sociological Inquiry•1981

  Incluir item

• The Parsons Revival in German Sociology

  Jeffrey C Alexander•Sociological Theory•1984

  Incluir item

• Orientation Theory in Industry

  Open Access•Gunter Baurei, Gunter Baureiss•Work and Occupations•1986

  Incluir item

• Hybrid Organizations – What’s in a Name

  Open Access•Olof Hallonsten, Anna Thomasson•Journal of Organizational Sociology•2024

  Incluir item

• The state of medical sociology in the United States, Great Britain, West Germany and Austria

  Open Access•W C Cockerham•Social Science & Medicine•1983

  Incluir item

• El nuevo movimiento teórico

  Open Access•Jeffrey C Alexander, Rosa María Núñez•Estudios Sociológicos de El…•1988

  Incluir item

• Järnburen smids på nytt

  Open Access•Olof Hallonsten•Sociologisk Forskning•2022

  Incluir item

• The Functions of The Social Bond

  Open Access•James J Chri•Sociological Quarterly•2007

  Incluir item

• T. Parsons’ “Societal Community” in G. Sciortino’s Theoretical-empirical Interpretation

  Open Access•Irina Trotsuk•Sotsiologicheskoe Obozrenie /…•2024

  Incluir item

• Modern Science and Technology

  Richard Munch•Comparative Sociology•1983

  Incluir item

• Equilibrium, structural contradictions, and social conflicts

  Open Access•George Arditi•Sociological Forum•1988

  Incluir item

• From Pure Methodological Individualism to Poor Sociological Utilitarianism

  Open Access•Richard Muench, Richard Munch•The Canadian Journal of Sociology•1983

  Incluir item

• A Response to Jeffrey Alexander's Theoretical Logic in Sociology Concerning the Alleged Unidimensionality of Marxian Theory

  Open Access•Douglas V Porpora•Sociological Quarterly•1986

  Incluir item

• Talcott Parsons

  Gerald Turkel•Sociological Focus•2005

  Incluir item

• Formal model building and theoretical interests in sociology

  Adrian C Hayes•Journal of Mathematical Sociology•1984

  Incluir item

• Institutions as production systems

  Thomas J Fararo, J Skvoretz•Journal of Mathematical Sociology•1984

  Incluir item

• Talcott Parsons and the Sociology of Morality

  Open Access•R A Wei, Raquel Weiss et al.•The American Sociologist•2021

  Incluir item

• Social Theory and Talcott Parsons in the 1980

  David Sciulli, Dean R Gerstein et al.•Annual Review of Sociology•1985

  Incluir item

• Parsons's Emergent Durkheims

  Open Access•Edward A Tiryakian•Sociological Theory•2000

  Incluir item

• A Weberian Account of Social Norms and Trust in Financial Markets

  Sandro Segre, Segre•Max Weber Studies•2005

  Incluir item

• Overcoming Structure and Agency

  Open Access•Anthony King•Journal of Classical Sociology•2009

  Incluir item

• The form of sociology

  S N Eisenstadt•The form of sociology•1976

  Incluir item

• The broken covenant

  Robert Neelly Bellah•The broken covenant•1992

  Incluir item

• Kritik der reinen Vernunft

  Immanuel Kant, Immanuel Immanuel et al.•Philosophische Bibliothek, Band 505•1998

  Incluir item

• Working papers in the theory of action

  Talcott Parsons•Working papers in the theory of…•1981

  Incluir item

• Theories and theory groups in contemporary American sociology

  Nicholas C Mullins•Theories and theory groups in…•1973

  Incluir item

• The coming crisis of western sociology

  Alvin W Gouldner•The coming crisis of western…•1971

  Incluir item

• Out of Utopia

  Ralf Dahrendorf•2017

  Incluir item

• "Comment on R. Stephen Warner's "Toward a Redefinition of Action Theory

  Talcott Parsons•American Journal of Sociology•1978

  Incluir item

• Toward a General Theory of Action

  Clyde Kluckhohn, Talcott Parsons et al.•Toward a General Theory of Action•2017

  Incluir item

• Power and Privilege

  Open Access•Leonard Reissman•Political Science Quarterly•1967

  Incluir item

• An Alternative to Parsons' Four-Function Paradigm as a Basis for Developing General Sociological Theory

  Robert R Blain•American Sociological Review•1971

  Incluir item

• The Social Theories of Talcott Parsons

  Lewis S Feuer, Max Black•The Journal of Philosophy•1962

  Incluir item

• The Hobbesian Problem of Order

  D Ellis, Desmond P Ellis•American Sociological Review•1971

  Incluir item

• Classic on Classic

  Willard B Pope, Whitney Pope•American Sociological Review•1973

  Incluir item

• But Some Are More Equal Than Others

  Wilbert E Moore•American Sociological Review•1963

  Incluir item

• On the Divergence of Weber and Durkheim

  Willard B Pope, Whitney Pope et al.•American Sociological Review•1975

  Incluir item

• De-Parsonizing Weber

  Jere Cohen, Lawrence E Hazelrigg et al.•American Sociological Review•1975

  Incluir item

• The Oversocialized Conception of Man in Modern Sociology

  Dennis H Wrong•American Sociological Review•1961

  Incluir item

• Social Stratification and the Functional Theory of Social Differentiation

  Walter Buckley•American Sociological Review•1958

  Incluir item

• A Logical Analysis of the Davis-Moore Theory of Stratification

  George A Huaco•American Sociological Review•1963

  Incluir item

• Sociology and Philosophy (Routledge Revivals)

  Emile Durkheim•Sociology and Philosophy…•2009

  Incluir item

• Beyond Belief

  Robert N Bellah•Beyond Belief•1991

  Incluir item

• Talcott Parsons and American Sociology

  Don Martindale, Guy Rocher•Social Forces•1976

  Incluir item

• Toward a Redefinition of Action Theory

  R Stephen Warner, Richard Warner et al.•American Journal of Sociology•1978

  Incluir item

• Talcott Parsons, the Problem of Order in Society, and the Program of an Analytical Sociology

  Thomas Burger•American Journal of Sociology•1977

  Incluir item

• An Analytical Approach to the Theory of Social Stratification

  Talcott Parsons•American Journal of Sociology•1940

  Incluir item