Parson and Sociology - 2496 Words

Parsons’ most significant contribution to Sociology derives from the supposition that action does not exist in some vacuous state. Instead he argues that action(s) should be considered within the context of a broader system comprised of boundaries and the maintenance of such boundaries. He seems to suggest that appropriating the action-system paradigm, to be discussed below, provides the most useful framework for analyzing social phenomena. In The Structure of Social Action (1937), Parsons lays the foundations for the establishment of the prevailing theoretical tradition (i.e., structural functionalism) in American Sociology spanning decades. Although this meta-theoretical approach received harsh criticism from conflict theorists in particular, its attempt to bring sophisticated and careful thinking to understanding how social scientists might examine social systems should not be dismissed. It is neither my intent nor responsibility to rehearse the extensions or criticism s offered by later theorists, but, rather, to focus on a few critical aspects of Parsons’ initial efforts to engage in an ongoing scholarly conversation. In doing so, I argue that although Parson’s synthesizes the work of classical theorists, he is doing so in an effort to extrapolate the critical raw materials that might allow him to move beyond classical theoretical approaches to an analysis of the social world rather than charting a completely new course. The degree to which I am persuaded byShow MoreRelatedTalcott Parsons was born December 13, 1902 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. As an undergraduate at600 Words   |  3 PagesTalcott Parsons was born December 13, 1902 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. As an undergraduate at Amherst College, Parsons studied sociology, philosophy and biology. He received his bachelor’s degree in 1924, then moved on to studying at the London School of Economics. Later, he received his Ph.D. in sociology and economics from the U niversity of Heidelberg in Germany. After earning his Ph.D., Parsons taught at Amherst College for one year, and then went on to be an instructor at Harvard UniversityRead MoreFunctionalism from Classical to Contemporary Theory787 Words   |  4 PagesFunctionalism is a social theory that has its foundations in the birth of the discipline called sociology (Adams Sydie, 2002 p.05). Angste Comte, considered the founder of sociology, believed that sociological matters should be explained through scientific study. Functionalism is a method of study based primary on facts, objectively measured, essentially applying the scientific method to the study of society, social actions and interactions. Functionalism is interested in the relationships betweenRead MoreSociological Imagination Summary1307 Words   |  6 Pages In the case of the present-day man who feels cornered and defenseless, the study of sociology can clarify how these emotions are formed by entities that are bigger than any one person’s life. Mills argues that a sociological study can serve to demonstrate to the individual how his private life is also constructed by the environment in which he lives and the actual age in which he resides. The study of sociology can tie the private and the classical by altering private issues into classical issuesRead MoreThe Theory Of Action Theory1648 Words   |  7 Pagessociologists, was developed in the mid- twentieth century by Talcott Parsons. Parsons sought to create a unified doctrine of sociological study that earned sociology a place among the other sciences. Up to that point sociological studies were limited to two major schools of thought, namely utilitarianism and German idealism, both of which described parameters explored in voluntaristic action theory but lacked an encompassing view. Parsons incorporated aspects of both disciplines of thought in his developmentRead MoreSociological Perspectives Of An Individual And Their Own Behaviour And The S ociety1126 Words   |  5 PagesIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES   Sociology studies the lives of an individual and their own behaviour and the society they live in (A. Giddens 2006). There are theoretical perspectives used so that one understands an individual behaviour and the society they live in. The sociological perspectives study each behaviour and how it is linked to the whole society or how the society influence the individual rather. The society is a diverse body and different perspectives is used to understand how they are linkedRead MoreThe Role of Theory in Social Research1613 Words   |  7 Pagesthe facts. Theory helps us create a story and tell which the dependent is and which the independent variable is. Theory points us to what we don’t know, which is the point of all the research in sociology. Theory also allows different concepts of sociology to talk to each other, and that allows sociology to progress. Emile Durkheim had stated in â€Å"What is a Social Fact?† that reason develops theories and, and observation back s them up. According to Durkheim, social facts are not ideas, they are factsRead MoreIn The Past, Gender Roles Specialization As So Pronounced1425 Words   |  6 Pagesfemales disappearing. Nevertheless, studying gender role specialization from a sociological viewpoint, it is evident that gender norms are still in existence. This can be explained using the study by Parsons and Bales on the contribution of the family structure in socio-economic context. According to Parsons and Bales, gender is performed and explored based on how family relationships are maintained as well as the manner in which the family unit impacts the society. In their book, the two sociologistsRead MoreFunctionalism : Functionalism And Functionalism1100 Words   |  5 PagesFunctionalism has been focused on different parts of the societies ‘functioning’ to keep up social order and foundation. Emile Durkheim, Talcott Parsons and Robert Merton were the three main theorists of functionalism, where they studied to understand how different parts of society could connect and work towards promoting social steadiness and harmony. Parsons viewed health as an important part of foundation and building a better society where illness has stopped people from carrying out different tasksRead MoreEssay on The Functionalist View of the Family565 Words   |  3 Pagesof the Family It is undoubted that functionalism has contributed to the general understanding of the family, even if you don’t believe the functionalist view-point to be correct, it still plays an essential part in the topic of sociology by simply being there to conflict the Marxist view of the family. The functionalist view of society makes the assumption that every society has a range of basic needs. Functionalists would say that if these needs are beingRead MoreThe Most Important Features of a Social System1435 Words   |  6 Pagesconcept and component of theoretical explanation, it highlights the intricate nature of the society we live in. (Craib 1992) Talcott Parsons, a dominant functionalist theorist, focused much of his work on the concept of a social system. (Water 1994) Such a concept is indeed synonymous with his work. Whilst there is no universal sociological definition of the concept, Parsons defined a social system as: a plurality of individual actors interacting with each other in a situation which has at least a physical