Sociology and the New Systems Theory

Toward a Theoretical Synthesis

AvKenneth D. Bailey

Inbunden, Engelska, 1994

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Beskrivning

This book provides current information about the many recent contributions of social systems theory. While some sociologists feel that the systems age ended with functionalism, in reality a number of recent developments have occurred within the field. The author makes these developments accessible to sociologists and other non-systems scholars, and begins a synthesis of the burgeoning systems field and mainstream sociological theory. The analysis shows not only that important points of rapprochement exist between systems theory and sociological theory, but also that systems theory has in some cases anticipated developments needed in mainstream theory.

Produktinformation

Utgivningsdatum:1994-01-18
Mått:153 x 229 x 20 mm
Vikt:680 g
Format:Inbunden
Språk:Engelska
Antal sidor:372
Förlag:State University of New York Press
ISBN:9780791417430

Utforska kategorier

Sociologi och antropologi inom Samhälle och politik

Mer om författaren

Kenneth D. Bailey is Professor of Sociology at the University of California, Los Angeles. He is the author of Methods of Social Research and Social Entropy Theory, also published by SUNY Press.

Recensioner i media

After providing a review of classical theory, this book carefully sketches the chief contributions of living systems theory, social entropy theory, autopoiesis, and other approaches. It shows that these approaches are without the flaws of earlier functionalism, yet they retain the breadth and integrative potential needed by mainstream theorists concerned about the threat of hyperspecialization and fragmentation within sociology.

Innehållsförteckning

List of TablesList of FiguresPreface1. Social Theory and Systems TheoryPlan of the Book2. Social Systems TheoryTypes of SystemsTypologyWhy Study Systems?Toward a Positive PositivismBlockingCriticismCounterpoint3. The Age of EquilibriumThe Appeal of EquilibriumSome Major Equilibrium TheoristsHomeostasisAdditional Equilibrium ModelsSumming UpCounterpoint4. The Age of EntropyGeneral Systems TheoryNonequilibrium ThermodynamicsCounterpoint5. Living Systems TheoryCommentaryCounterpoint6. Social Entropy TheoryThe ChallengesSummarizing SETImmutablesOrganizationThe Central Problem of Social OrderCommentaryCounterpoint7. Living Systems Theory and Social Entropy Theory: A CongruenceDivergenceTowards CongruenceTechnologyRemainder of Set Compared with LSTCounterpoint8. AutopoiesisAre Social Systems Autopoietic?Counterpoint9. The Dual SynthesisSystems TheoryMainstream Sociology TheoryConcluding Remarks ReferencesAuthor IndexSubject Index