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Über die Grundlagen der Handlungstheorie: Vier Imperative

On the foundations of action theory: Four imperatives

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Zusammenfassung

Der Beitrag beschäftigt sich mit vier wichtigen Möglichkeiten, durch die die allgemeine theoretische Soziologie weiterentwickelt werden kann. Diese Möglichkeiten werden als vier Imperative für effektive Theoriearbeit dargestellt, welche Prozessphilosophie mit der Methodologie formaler Theorie verbindet. Die vier Imperative sind: Denke in Prozessen! Denke in Strukturen! Denke integrativ! Denke in Idealisierungen! Diese Imperative werden in allgemeiner Form beleuchtet und mit speziellem Bezug zum Programm der Handlungstheorie von Talcott Parsons im Kontext grundlegender Fragen gegenwärtiger soziologischer Theorie.

Abstract

The major theme of this paper is that there are four important modes by which general theoretical sociology can be advanced. These modes are set forth as four imperatives for effective theorizing that combine process philosophy with a methodology of formal theorizing. The four imperatives are: Think process! Think structure! Think integration! Think idealization! These imperatives are elucidated in general terms and also with particular reference to the action theory program of Talcott Parsons in the context of foundational issues in contemporary sociological theory.

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Correspondence to Thomas J. Fararo.

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Übersetzung aus dem Amerikanischen von Helmut Staubmann.

Distinguished Service Professor of Sociology at the University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA) where he teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in sociological theory. His books dealing with theoretical and mathematical sociology include Mathematical Sociology (1973), The Meaning Of General Theoretical Sociology 1989), Social Action Systems (2001), and Generating Images of Stratification (with K. Kosaka, 2003). He is co-editor of Rational Choice Theory: Advocacy and Critique (with J. Coleman, 1992) and The Problem Of Solidarity: Theories and Models (with P. Doreian 1998).

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Fararo, T.J. Über die Grundlagen der Handlungstheorie: Vier Imperative. ÖZS 29, 3–26 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11614-004-0001-y

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