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Methodological Individualism in Terms of Rational-Choice and Frame-Selection Theory: A Critical Appraisal

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Abstract

Muench discusses the limitations of methodological individualism in terms of rational-choice and frame-selection theory in studies focused on the historical-sociological explanation of social phenomena. The chapter starts with explaining the understanding of methodological individualism following Max Weber. Against this backdrop, it is demonstrated that methodological individualism in terms of rational-choice and frame-selection theory follows a much narrower understanding than the Weberian one. First, conceiving of action as utility maximization, it operates with a narrower concept of action than Weber. Second, being preoccupied with tracing back any explanation of phenomena on the macro level to the micro level of individual action, it does not pay enough attention to the emergent features and configurations of macro-level phenomena to explain social macro phenomena. These configurations are crucial for transforming individual actions into features of social units on the macro level. Max Weber’s study on ascetic Protestantism and the spirit of modern capitalism and Diego Gambetta’s study on the Sicilian Mafia serve as objects of demonstration of this argument.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Zeppelin University, Friedrichshafen, Germany

    Richard Muench

  2. Otto Friedrich University, Bamberg, Germany

    Richard Muench

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  1. Richard Muench
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  1. French National Centre for Scientific Research, PARIS, France

    Nathalie Bulle

  2. Nankai University, Tianjin, China

    Francesco Di Iorio

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Muench, R. (2023). Methodological Individualism in Terms of Rational-Choice and Frame-Selection Theory: A Critical Appraisal. In: Bulle, N., Di Iorio, F. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Methodological Individualism. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-41508-1_22

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-41508-1_22

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