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Theory Beyond Structure and Agency

Introducing the Metric/Nonmetric Distinction

Specificaties
Gebonden, blz. | Engels
Springer International Publishing | e druk, 2019
ISBN13: 9783030189822
Rubricering
Springer International Publishing e druk, 2019 9783030189822
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Samenvatting

This book offers a solution for the problem of structure and agency in sociological theory by developing a new pair of fundamental concepts: metric and nonmetric. Nonmetric forms, arising in a crowd made out of innumerable individuals, correspond to social groups that divide the many individuals in the crowd into insiders and outsiders. Metric forms correspond to congested zones like traffic jams on a highway: individuals are constantly entering and leaving these zones so that they continue to exist, even though the individuals passing through them change. Building from these concepts, we can understand “agency” as a requirement for group identity and group membership, thus associating it with nonmetric forms, and “structure” as a building-up effect following the accumulation of metric forms. This reveals the contradiction between structure and agency to be a case of forced perspective, leaving us victim to an optical illusion.

Specificaties

ISBN13:9783030189822
Taal:Engels
Bindwijze:gebonden
Uitgever:Springer International Publishing

Inhoudsopgave

<p>Chapter 1. Introduction</p><p>1.1. From structure and agency to metric and nonmetric</p><p>1.2. Preliminary lessons from the sociology of globalization</p><p>1.3. A little help from philosophy</p><p>1.4. Plan of the book: toward a three layers model</p><p>Chapter 2. Structure and Agency: Problem and Solution</p><p>2.1. The problem of structure and agency (phase A)</p><p>2.2. Forced perspective and depthless perception (phase B)</p><p>2.3. Breaking the illusion: a threefold operationalization (phase C)</p><p>2.3.1. First operationalization: the micro/macro distinction</p><p>2.3.2. Second operationalization: the individual/society distinction</p><p>2.3.3. Third operationalization: the structure/agency distinction</p><p>2.4. Conclusion</p><p>Chapter 3. DeLanda and the Metric/Nonmetric Distinction</p><p>3.1. The concept of multiplicity (phase A)</p><p>3.2. The concept of assemblage (phase A, continued)</p><p>3.3. DeLanda against DeLanda (phase B)</p><p>3.4. Metric and nonmetric: an overview (phase C)</p><p>3.4.1. First dichotomy</p><p>3.4.2. Second dichotomy</p><p>3.4.3. Third dichotomy</p><p>3.4.4. Fourth dichotomy</p><p>3.5. Conclusion</p><p>Chapter 4. Metric and Nonmetric in Weber and Durkheim</p><p>4.1 The relation actor/action (phase A)</p><p>4.2. The relation between types of action (phase B)</p><p>4.3. Metric and nonmetric in Weber (phase C)</p><p>4.3.1. The dichotomy between patrimonialism and bureaucracy</p><p>4.3.2. The different types of rationality</p><p>4.3.3. The separation of value-spheres</p><p>4.3.4. Charisma and its routinization</p><p>4.3.5. Additional remarks on the separation of value-spheres</p><p>4.4. The theory of Homo duplex (phase A)</p><p>4.5. The critique of Homo duplex (phase B)</p><p>4.6. Metric and nonmetric in Durkheim (phase C)</p><p>4.7. Conclusion</p><p>Chapter 5. Forms and Medium in Luhmann's Systems Theory</p><p>5.1. Communication as operation of social systems (phases A)</p><p>5.2. Beyond conversation (phase B)</p><p>5.3. The crowd as medium of communication (phase C)</p><p>5.4. Modernity as functional differentiation (phase A)</p><p>5.5. Beyond inclusion and exclusion (phase B)</p><p>5.5. Metric and nonmetric in Luhmann (phase C)</p><p>5.6. Conclusion</p><p>Chapter 6. Bourdieu, Giddens and Foucault Through the Metric/Nonmetric Distinction</p><p>6.1. Pierre Bourdieu</p><p>6.2. Anthony Giddens</p><p>6.3. Michel Foucault</p><p>6.4. Conclusion</p><p>Chapter 7. Applying the Metric/Nonmetric Distinction</p><p>7.1. Weber on capitalism</p><p>7.2. The history of capitalism: nonmetric aspects</p><p>7.3. The history of capitalism: metric aspects</p><p>7.4. From history to social change</p><p>7.5. Conclusion</p><p>Chapter 8. General Conclusion<br></p>

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        Theory Beyond Structure and Agency