{"product_id":"individualism-holism-and-the-central-dilemma-of-sociological-theory","title":"Individualism, Holism and the Central Dilemma of Sociological Theory","description":"Individualism\r\nand holism, the concepts embedded in the title of this book, represent two key\r\ntheoretical perspectives that have for many decades steered and shaped\r\nsociological thought. For over a century these two interpretative perspectives\r\nhave also divided sociological theory into two camps, accompanied by a band of\r\nscholars trying to bridge this dualism.\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\u003c\/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv\u003eAccording to\r\nAmerican sociologist Jeffrey C. Alexander, individualist theories derive their\r\nappeal and strength from their underlying assumption that humans make decisions\r\nas individual, free, autonomous, and rationally and morally consistent beings. A related belief is that they are able to express these\r\nqualities in their actions regardless of the situation in society or what\r\neconomic or moral conditions prevail.\u003c\/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\u003c\/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv\u003eHolistic, or collectivist, theories, unlike\r\nindividualism, assign primacy to social entities. This perspective is important because it\r\ncreates the basic precondition through which entities can become the subject of\r\ndeliberate sociological analysis. However, there is a price for fulfilling this\r\nprecondition. The emphasis it places on the collective, and on larger entities,\r\nlogically means that the individual will and free human decision-making tends\r\nto be lost from the field of view.\u003c\/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\u003c\/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv\u003eThis book argues that these two\r\nperspectives, individualist and holistic, form the central dilemma of\r\nsociological thought. It provides an\r\nextensive review and critique of contemporary sociological approaches to this\r\nantinomy and examines attempts that have been made to overcome it and unite them. Moreover, the book proposes a new approach to\r\nsolving this dilemma via the concept of 'critical reconfigurationism', arguing\r\nthat the resolution of this dilemma is vital not just for sociological theory\r\nbut also for empirical social research.\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"None","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":46258755764434,"sku":"9781787690387","price":136.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Kobo eBook","offer_id":46258755797202,"sku":"1e0850f2-0b05-3719-bdec-616a99f49d4a","price":117.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0655\/8980\/5233\/files\/1_f5553f5f-baa0-4762-8585-43dfcc80e181.jpg?v=1763680588","url":"https:\/\/www.indigo.ca\/products\/individualism-holism-and-the-central-dilemma-of-sociological-theory","provider":"Indigo","version":"1.0","type":"link"}