The Myth Of Social Action

The Myth of Social Action, first published in 1996, is a powerful critique of the sociology of the time and a call to reject the prevailing orthodoxy. Arguing that sociological theory had lost its way, Colin Campbell mounts a case for a new 'dynamic interpretivism' a perspective on human conduct which is more inkeeping with the spirit of traditional Weberian action theory. Discussing and dismissing one by one the main arguments of those who reject individualistic action theory, he demonstrates that this has been wrongly rejected in favour of the interactional, social situationalist approach now dominating sociological thought.

Die in diesem Band versammelten Essays erörtern die Frage nach der Möglichkeit des Verstehens menschlichen Handelns ohne den Rückbezug auf moralische Werte und Normen. Obwohl die Autoren sich dieser Frage auf ganz unterschiedliche, manchmal divergierende, Weisen nähern, verbindet sie alle die Annahme, es sei nicht wünschenswert oder sogar inkohärent, das menschliche Handeln grundsätzlich unabhängig von moralischen Werten zu betrachten. Die Herausgeber haben sich um eine für Philosophen und Gesellschaftswissenschaftler gleichermaßen attraktive Beitragssammlung bemüht. Die Verknüpfung philosophischer und soziologischer Perspektiven könnte zur Klärung gegenseitiger Missverständnisse beitragen, die aufgrund eines mangelhaften Dialogs zwischen der philosophischen und soziologischen Handlungstheorie erwachsen sind. In diesem Band enthalten sind Essays von Terry Pinkard, Sebastian Rödl, Dieter Schönecker, Ana Marta González, John Levi Martin, Alejandro N. García Martínez, Sophie Djigo, Teresa Enríquez und Evgenia Mylonaki. The essays in this volume address the question of whether we can understand human action without reference to moral norms or values. Although the authors approach this question in different and sometimes even incompatible ways, they are united in thinking that it is undesirable or even incoherent to treat human agency as if it were conceptually independent of value questions. The editors have attempted to invite contributions that would be interesting to both philosophers and social theorists. The conjunction of philosophic and sociological perspectives might help to overcome some of the mutual misunderstandings that have been fostered by a lack of dialogue between the philosophic and sociological action theory. The volume includes essays by Terry Pinkard, Sebastian Rödl, Dieter Schönecker, Ana Marta González, John Levi Martin, Alejandro N. García Martínez, Sophie Djigo, Teresa Enríquez, and Evgenia Mylonaki.

The Explanation of Social Action is a sustained critique of the conventional understanding of what it means to "explain" something in the social sciences. It makes the strong argument that the traditional understanding involves asking questions that have no clear foundation and provoke an unnecessary tension between lay and expert vocabularies. Drawing on the history and philosophy of the social sciences, John Levi Martin exposes the root of the problem as an attempt to counterpose two radically different types of answers to the question of why someone did a certain thing: first person and third person responses. The tendency is epitomized by attempts to explain human action in "causal" terms. This "causality" has little to do with reality and instead involves the creation and validation of abstract statements that almost no social scientist would defend literally. This substitution of analysts' imaginations over actors' realities results from an intellectual history wherein social scientists began to distrust the self-understanding of actors in favor of fundamentally anti-democratic epistemologies. These were rooted most defensibly in a general understanding of an epistemic hiatus in social knowledge and least defensibly in the importation of practices of truth production from the hierarchical setting of institutions for the insane. Martin, instead of assuming that there is something fundamentally arbitrary about the cognitive schemes of actors, focuses on the nature of judgment. This implies the need for a social aesthetics, an understanding of the process whereby actors intuit intersubjectively valid qualities of complex social objects. In this thought-provoking and ambitious book, John Levi Martin argues that the most promising way forward to such a science of social aesthetics will involve a rigorous field theory.

Originally published in 1975 Education and Social Action, examines the possibility and value of effecting links between community service and the curriculum in various sectors of higher education. It describes what has been done in each of several disciplines in giving students the opportunity to carry out work of direct social utility within the context of the curriculum. It examines the benefits and the problems experienced by students, their teachers, and analyses the social and educational issues involved. The book derives links between the work of Community Service Volunteer in fostering links between Community Service and the curriculum, not only in schools but in institutions of higher education.

New edition forthcoming in time for fall 2017! The Myth of Individualism offers a concise introduction to sociology and sociological thinking. Drawing upon personal stories, historical events, and sociological research, Callero shows how powerful social forces shape individual lives in subtle but compelling ways.

Christian Smith is a force to conjure with in sociology, both in its empirical forays (studies of youth and religious life) and in its higher reaches of theory, where his work sets out to move culture, morality, and identity to the center of social thought. We published his 2011 book, What Is a Person?, to critical plaudits and healthy sales. Striking a middle path between extremes of positivist science and relativism, Smith’s theory of personhood teased out how we can know what is good in personal and social life, and what sociology can tell us about human rights and dignity. To Flourish or Destruct is a sequel. It builds on the earlier book to explore the question of human motivations for action. In arguing for a sociological turn in a more humanist direction, he sets up a scaffolding for a philosophy of moral realism that makes human flourishing (the realization of basic human goods) a centerpiece of social science. Smith’s Aristotelian account of flourishing argues that genuinely investing in the flourishing of other people is a necessary condition for personal flourishing--in short, learning to love others. The guiding assumption is that flourishing is the natural aim of all human life. He then turns to the question of evil (the absence or privation of what is good), with extended consideration of Stalin and Hitler and totalitarianism in general, in contrast to his inventory of basic human goods, motivations, and interests. The title poses the question: will I flourish or will I destruct? On which path is my life moving?

Clinical Work and Social Action: An Integrative Approach develops a paradigm for social work and human services practice that integrates clinical work and social action. Social workers, clinicians, activists, and educators will explore ways to create harmony in the divisions that currently exist between values, theory, and practice, thereby reducing conflicts in their work. This book identifies central values and selected theoretical ideas for a new model of work that you can adapt to your practice setting. Separate chapters include case material related to work with people of color, work with oppressed populations, and classroom teaching. Clinical Work and Social Action connects the historic split between clinical work and social action to better serve the people with whom you work. Through Clinical Work and Social Action, you will find valuable suggestions and insights into how you can integrate values, theory, and practice as the basis for a new model of work. The book includes topics such as: exposing the myth that “politics” has no place in practice with individual clients and families and demonstrates that all practice is political examining a new paradigm for practice that encourages change at the individual, agency, and social policy levels demonstrating the importance of Paulo Freire’s ideas about dialogical praxis to social welfare work teaching a model of practice that facilitates and promotes involvement and open dialogue with people in the community and students in the classroom offering insight into how you can respond to the full range of your clients’concerns, such as racism, classism, homophobia, domestic violence, homelessness, disabilities, and emotional difficulties exploring how your values, theories, training and experience affect the choice of interventions you make with individuals, groups, and families To bridge the gap between clinical work and social action, you must develop a practice that includes the possibility of social change. With Clinical Work and Social Action, you will find many case studies and examples to help you do just that. This informative book provides you with ways to work with clients to bring about individual and social change and offers strategies for creating change in social agencies and communities.