Social Theory and Self-Organization: Toward a Sociology of Postmodernism

1993 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-93
Author(s):  
Takatoshi Imada
Keyword(s):  
Social Theory ◽  
Self Organization

Reshaping social theory from complexity and ecological perspectives

Thesis Eleven ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 114 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Smith ◽  
Chris Jenks
Keyword(s):  
Social Theory ◽  
Sociological Theory ◽  
Self Organization ◽  
Ecological Approach ◽  
Social Phenomena ◽  
Philosophy Of Ecology

This article argues that Durkheim’s founding insight – uniquely social phenomena – presents us with both a foundation for the discipline of sociology and the risk that the discipline will become isolated. This, we argue, has happened. Our contention is that the emergent social phenomena need to be understood in relation to, but not reduced to, their biological and psychological substrates. Similarly, there are a number of other characteristics, notably of self-organization, which are distinguishing properties of social phenomena but also of quite different phenomena. The comparison is instructive. We therefore argue for an ecological approach to sociological theory, which has important relationships to the general theories and philosophy of ecology and biology. We explore a number of terminological and conceptual parallels that may inform our understanding of the relation of social theory to these and other disciplines.

scholarly journals SAVIORGANIZACIJA IR EPISTEMOLOGINIS SILPNUMAS

Problemos ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 79 ◽  
pp. 141-152
Author(s):  
Charalambos Tsekeris ◽  
Ioannis Katerelos ◽  
Konstantinos Koskinas
Keyword(s):  
General Theory ◽  
Social Theory ◽  
Self Organization ◽  
Analytic Framework ◽  
Aesthetic Style ◽  
Epistemic Modesty

Straipsnyje siekiama visapusiškai sujungti pripažintas teorines ir metodologines saviorganizacijos ir sudėtingumo sąvokas su bendrosiomis socialinės teorijos problemomis (tokiomis kaip žinojimas, subjektyvumas, veikmė ir numatymas), taip pat su naujuoju episteminio nuosaikumo bei kuklumo etosu ir estetika. Kitaip sakant, bendroji saviorganizacijos teorija yra tinkamas ir patvarus analitinis karkasas kurti ir plėtoti radikalią epistemologinio silpnumo etiką/estetiką bei silpnesnę ir refleksyvesnę sociologinę/epistemologinę pasaulėžiūrą.Pagrindiniai žodžiai: žinojimas, saviorganizacija ir kompleksiškumas, epistemologija ir etika, refleksyvumas ir socialinė teorija.Self-Organization and Epistemological WeaknessCharalambos Tsekeris, Ioannis Katerelos, Konstantinos Koskinas SummaryThis paper seeks to comprehensively and critically interconnect the well-established theoretical and methodological conceptions of self-organization, complexity and chaos with more general issues and dilemmas in the contemporary field of social theory (such as knowledge, objectivity/subjectivity, structure/agency and prediction), as well as with a new reflexive ethos (practice) and aesthetic (style) of epistemic modesty and humility. In other words, a general theory of self-organization seems to be a suitable and sustainable analytic framework for generating, developing and cultivating a radical ethics/aesthetics of epistemological weakness, as well as a sense of less strong and more reflexive sociological/epistemological worldview.Keywords: knowledge, self-organization and complexity, epistemology and ethics, reflexivity and social theory.

scholarly journals A “Weak” Reflection on Unpredictability and Social Theory

2010 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-42
Author(s):  
Charalambos Tsekeris ◽  
Konstantinos Koskinas
Keyword(s):  
Social Theory ◽  
Self Organization ◽  
Analytic Framework ◽  
Weak Reflection ◽  
Epistemic Modesty

This concise reflection seeks to comprehensively interconnect the well-established theoretical and methodological logic of self-organization with a new reflexive ethos and aesthetic of epistemic modesty and humility. A brief elaboration on the issue of unpredictability further encourages a suitable and sustainable analytic framework for generating, developing and cultivating a radical ethics/aesthetics of epistemological weakness, as well as a sense of less strong and more reflexive sociological/philosophical worldview.

scholarly journals A “Weak” Reflection on Unpredictability and Social Theory

2010 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-42
Author(s):  
Charalambos Tsekeris ◽  
Konstantinos Koskinas
Keyword(s):  
Social Theory ◽  
Self Organization ◽  
Analytic Framework ◽  
Weak Reflection ◽  
Epistemic Modesty

This concise reflection seeks to comprehensively interconnect the well-established theoretical and methodological logic of self-organization with a new reflexive ethos and aesthetic of epistemic modesty and humility. A brief elaboration on the issue of unpredictability further encourages a suitable and sustainable analytic framework for generating, developing and cultivating a radical ethics/aesthetics of epistemological weakness, as well as a sense of less strong and more reflexive sociological/philosophical worldview.

Accent Policy and Accent Modification Enterprises as Potential Indicators of Intercultural Power Relations: A Call for an Updated Research Agenda

2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brynne D. Ovalle ◽  
Rahul Chakraborty
Keyword(s):  
International Relations ◽  
Identity Construction ◽  
Social Theory ◽  
Power Relations ◽  
Linguistic Diversity ◽  
Cultural Organization ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

This article has two purposes: (a) to examine the relationship between intercultural power relations and the widespread practice of accent discrimination and (b) to underscore the ramifications of accent discrimination both for the individual and for global society as a whole. First, authors review social theory regarding language and group identity construction, and then go on to integrate more current studies linking accent bias to sociocultural variables. Authors discuss three examples of intercultural accent discrimination in order to illustrate how this link manifests itself in the broader context of international relations (i.e., how accent discrimination is generated in situations of unequal power) and, using a review of current research, assess the consequences of accent discrimination for the individual. Finally, the article highlights the impact that linguistic discrimination is having on linguistic diversity globally, partially using data from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and partially by offering a potential context for interpreting the emergence of practices that seek to reduce or modify speaker accents.

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