In sociology, action theory refers to the theory of social action presented by the American theorist Talcott Parsons.
Parsons established action theory in order to integrate the study of social order with the structural and voluntaristic aspects of macro and micro factors. In other words it may be described as an attempt to maintain the scientific rigour of positivism, while acknowledging the necessity of the "subjective dimension" of human action incorporated in hermeneutic types of sociological theorizing. Parson sees motives as part of our actions. Therefore, he thought that social science must consider ends, purposes and ideals when looking at actions. Parsons placed his discussion within a higher epistemological and explanatory context of system theory and cybernetics.
See also
- Structural functionalism
- Functional structuralism
- Agency (sociology)
- Structure and agency
- Social actions
- Theory of structuration
References
- Parsons, Talcott; Shils, Edward (1951). Toward a General Theory of Action. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press.
- Parsons, Talcott (1978). Action Theory and the Human Condition. New York: Free Press.
- Parsons, Talcott (1968). The structure of social action: a study in social theory with special reference to a group of recent European writers. New York: Free Press. http://books.google.com/books?id=vbDkAAAAIAAJ.
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