Theoretical Logic in Sociology, Vol. 4: The Modern Reconstruction of Classical Thought: Talcott Parsons

530 Pages·1984·3.48 MB·English

by  Jeffrey C. Alexander

Theoretical Logic in Sociology
At first, therefore, logic must indeed be learned as some
thing which one understands and sees into quite well but
in which, at the beginning, one feels the lack of scope and
depth and a wider significance. It is only after profounder
acquaintance ... that logic ceases to be for subjective spir
it a merely abstract universal and reveals itself as the uni
versal which embraces within itself the wealth of the
particular. ... The system of logic is the realm of shad
ows, the world of simple essentialities freed from all sen
suous concreteness. The study of this science, to dwell
and labour in this shadowy realm, is the absolute culture
and discipline of consciousness.
G. W. F. Hegel,
Science of Logic
Theoretical Logic in Sociology
Volume Four
THE MODERN
RECONSTRUCTION OF
CLASSICAL THOUGHT:
TALCOTT PARSONS
Jeffrey C. Alexander
University of California Press
Berkeley • Los Angeles
University of California Press
Berkeley and Los ~ngeles, California
®1983 by
The Regents of the University of California
Printed in the United States of America
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Alexander, Jeffrey C.
Theoretical logic in sociology.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Contents: v. 1. Positivism, presuppositions, and
current controversies:--v. 4. The modern
reconstruction of classical thought, Talcott Parsons.
1. Sociology-History-Collected works. 2. Sociology
-Philosophy-Collected works. 3. Sociology
Methodology-Collected works.
HM24.A465 1982 301 75-17305
ISBN 0-520-Q3062-1 (set)
ISBN 0-520-04483-5 (val. 4)
CONTENTS-OVERVIEW
Preface and Acknowledgments
Introduction
Volume One
POSITIVISM, PRESUPPOSITIONS, AND
CURRENTCONTROVERSffiS
One Theoretical Logic in Scientific Thought
Two Theoretical Logic in Sociological Thought (1): The Failure of
Contemporary Debate to Achieve Generality
Three Theoretical Logic in Sociological Thought (2): Toward the
Restoration of Generality
Four Theoretical Logic as Objective Argument
Notes
Indexes
Volume Two
THE ANTINOMIES OF CLASSICAL THOUGHT:
MARX AND DURKHEIM
Preface
One Prolegomena: General Theoretical Argument as Interpretation:
The Critical Role of "Readings"
Part One. Collective Order and the Ambiguity about Action
Two Marx's First Phase (1): From Moral Criticism to External
Necessity
v
vi Contents-overview
Three Marx's First Phase (2): The Attack on Moral Criticism and the
Origins of a Historical Materialism
Four Durkheim's First Phase (1): The Ambiguous Transition from
Voluntary Morality to Morality as External Constraint
Five Durkheim's First Phase (2): The Division of Labor in Society as
the Attempt to Reconcile Instrumental Order with Freedom
Part Two. Two Different Paths to Collective Order
Six Marx's Later Writings: The Elegant Apotheosis of Instrumental
Control
Seven Durkheim's Later Writings (1): The Transition to Morality as a
Spiritual Force
Eight Durkheim's Later Writings (2): The Religious Model and the
Idealist Theory of Society
Part Three. One-Dimensional Theory and Its Discontents
Nine Equivocation and Revision in the Classical Theory of
Sociological Idealism: Durkheim and "Durkheimianism"
Ten Equivocation and Revision in the Classical Theory of
Sociological Materialism: Marx and "Marxism"
Notes
Works of Marx and Durkheim
Indexes
Volume Three
THE CLASSICAL ATTEMPT AT
THEORETICAL SYNTHESIS: MAX WEBER
Preface
One Weber's Early Writings: Tentative Explorations beyond
Idealism and Materialism
Two The Later Writings and Weber's Multidimensional Theory of
Society
Three The Retreat from Multidimensionality (1): Presuppositional
Dichotomization in the "Religious" Writings
Four The Retreat from Multidimensionality (2): Instrumental
Reduction in the "Political" Writings
Five Legal-Rational Domination and the Utilitarian Structure of
Modern Life
Contents-Overview vii
Six Weber Interpretation and Weberian Sociology: "Paradigm
Revision" and Presuppositional Strain
Notes
Works of Weber
Indexes
Volume Four
THE MODERN RECONSTRUCTION OF
CLASSICAL THOUGHT: TALCOTT PARSONS
Preface: Theoretical Thought and Its Vicissitudes: The Achievements and
Limitations of Classical Sociology
One Theoretical Controversy and the Problematics of Parsonian
Interpretation
Two The Early Period: Interpretation and the Presuppositional
Movement toward Multidimensionality
Three The Middle Period: Specifying the Multidimensional Argument
Four The Later Period (1): The Interchange Model and Parsons'
Final Approach to Multidimensional Theory
Five The Later Period (2): Socialization, Social Change, and the
Systemic and Historical Bases of Individual Freedom
Six The Methodological Error (1): Neopositivism and the
Formalization of Parsons' Theory
Seven The Methodological Error (2): Neopositivist Strategy and the
Conflation of Presuppositional Logic with Specific
Commitments
Eight The Presuppositional Error (1): Sociological Idealism and the
Attack on Instrumental Order in the Early and Middle Work
Nine The Presuppositional Error (2): Idealist Reduction in the Later
Writings
Ten Conclusion: "Paradigm Revision" and Parsonianism
Appendix: Conflation and Reduction in the Interpretation of Parsonian
Theory
Notes
Works of Parsons
Indexes
THE MODERN
RECONSTRUCTION OF
CLASSICAL THOUGHT:
TALCOTT PARSONS
Contents
VOLUME FOUR
THE MODERN
RECONSTRUCTION OF
CLASSICAL THOUGHT:
TALCOTT PARSONS
Preface: Theoretical Thought and Its Vicissitudes: The
Achievements and Limitations of Classical Sociology xvii
Chapter One: Theoretical Controversy and the Problematics of
Parsonian Interpretation 1
Chapter Two: The Early Period: Interpretation and the
Presuppositional Movement toward Multidimensionality 8
1. Percept and Precept: Postpositivist Aspects of Parsons' Meta
Methodology 8
2. Precepts as Presuppositions: The Synthetic Intention 12
2.1. The Multidimensional Approach to Action 13
2.2. The Multidimensional Approach to Collective Order 20
3. Later Refinements of Multidimensional Order 26
3.1. Generalization-Specification 27
3.2. The Cybernetic Continuum 29
3.3. Beyond the Classics 32
4. Symbolic Order and Internalization: Later Refinements of
the Voluntarism Problem 35
5. Conclusion: "Systematic Theory" and Its Ecumenical
Ambition 44
Chapter Three: The Middle Period: Specifying the
Multidimensional Argument 46
1. "Specification" and the Stages of Theoretical
Development 46
xi