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methodological individualism start learning
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individual actions as the determining factor in the explanation of social phenomena like markets and companies; for many scholars it is based on the ontological premise that social reality cannot be determined by supra-individual factor
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methodological collectivism - what it is based on? start learning
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based on the ontological premise that individual phenomena are determined by the structure in which they are imbedded; the whole is more than a sum of individual parts; individual actions are determined by what is available in the contextual whole
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methodological collectivism - definition start learning
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we should scrutinise functions, mechanisms and reasons at macro level if we want to explain, understand and predict social phenomena
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start learning
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explanations in which the function or goal of a phenomenon provides for the explanation of the phenomenon; functionalism focuses on the system and the role the phenomenon plays within such a system
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functional explanation - example start learning
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In biology male birds are more capable of seducing females if they are better singers - explanation based on the description of goals. We explain why birds sing by describing what they can achieve by doing so
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Difference between causality and functionality start learning
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causality assesses events preceding a phenomenon; functionality assesses the goal phenomenon serves
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functional and system explanations start learning
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functional explanations are always system explanations. They ask what os necessary for system to survive and function well and explain individual behaviour be showing how individ. behaviour serves this systemic goal. Clear theory whose goal it is
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Why is crime functional according to Durkheim? start learning
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Crime is functional cuz it reinforces and keeps the society together
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start learning
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participating in social practices is the only way to find out and learn to understand what people consider to be important
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premise of symbolic interactionism start learning
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people's behavior and choices are largely determined by norms within a group, even though choices and behaviour also contribute to the production and development of these norms
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start learning
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It is not to be understood as behaviour guided by a rule. You simply make up new rules describing your behaviour. These kind of rules are not of a prescriptive nature. There is no normativity in them, so you cannot fail in applying them
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start learning
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explanans (cause) -> explanandum (effect)
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start learning
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it explains the existence of sth from its function within a given system; explanans (function) -> explanandum
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1st Condition of Functional Explanations admission start learning
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General Causal feedback mechanism exists; i.e. biological evolution, economic competition, sociological legitimation
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2nd Condition of Functional Explanations admission start learning
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Higher order regulative system at play
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3rd condition of Functional Explanations admission start learning
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Fundamental issues with functional explanations start learning
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1. Confusion of Causes and Effect; 2. Assumption that there is a higher order system at play; 3. Assumption that the explanans are a necessary condition
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Hermeneutics - social reality consists of two types of facts start learning
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1. Brute (Natural) facts that exist independent of human existence (water); 2. Institutional facts - come to existence bcs of our collective intentions towards them that give them meaning (money, churches, firms)
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start learning
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it is about understanding a phenomenon in terms of their meaning, taking the 1 person's perspective on the phenomenon studied
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Two foundational concepts in hermeneutics start learning
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Sense Making as hermeneutical concept start learning
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ongoing, often retrospective interpretation of the meaning of actions; sense making entails developing one's intentions
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Enactment as a hermeneutical concept start learning
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affirming or giving meaning to the world by acting on one's intentions. This can be achieved through infusing the world with collective intentionality and institutional facts
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Epistemological implications start learning
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the social ontology institutions requires a first person's perspective to make sense of them; social meaning has a "rule-like" nature; social phenomena can serve both as explanans and explanandum in explaining social reality
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start learning
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based on logic of appropriateness; actors believe that the institutions exemplifies the appropriate thing to do; normative expectations enter into equation
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start learning
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based on logic of orthodoxy; actors just believe that "this is the way the world works"; beliefs are taken for granted and alternatives are often not even conceived; however beliefs held need not be true as a matter of fact
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