Abstract: The central problem of social theorizing lies in the relations or mediations between system (in particular, structure and function), agency (particularly,action and subject) and time (in particular, history and process). Historically, these problems can be grouped in what I call the four micro-macro problems. In this paper, I show that Margaret Archer's "morphogenetic approach" can be seen as an attempt to simultaneously address these four micro-macro problems. Reconstructing a core architecture of Archer's model of sociological explanation, the "analytical dualism," I argue that this is a marriage of a two-level methodology based upon the distinction structure/interaction and a three-world ontology based on Karl Popper's metaphysics. As such, Archer's social theory shares a basic feature with Jürgen Habermas's "theory of communicative action," Bernhard Giesen's "evolution-theoretical model," and Manfred Hennen's and Elisabeth Springer's "basic schema of action theories." By pointing that out, I propose a hypothesis that a solution for the four-fold micro-macro problem would be a construct combining a multi-world ontology that allows the possibility of emergence in social reality and a multi-level methodology that provides a linkage between the different levels of social life.
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Contents
1. The Four Problems of Social Theorizing
2. The Two Levels of Facts
3. The Three Worlds of Emergent Entities
4. The Interplay Between Levels and Worlds
5. A Hypothesis for Further Research
Objectives and Topics
This paper explores the core architecture of Margaret Archer's realist social theory, specifically her "analytical dualism," to address the foundational micro-macro problem in sociology. It investigates how a combination of a multi-level methodology and a multi-world ontology—drawing on Karl Popper's metaphysics and David Lockwood's distinctions—can provide a robust linkage between social integration and system integration.
- Analysis of the four micro-macro problems in social theorizing.
- Reconstruction of Margaret Archer's "analytical dualism" and morphogenetic approach.
- Integration of a three-world ontology into sociological explanation.
- Examination of social integration versus system integration.
- Comparison with other grand syntheses in sociology, such as those by Habermas and Giesen.
Excerpt from the Book
The Four Problems of Social Theorizing
It would not be exaggerated to say that the central problem of social theorizing lies in the relations or mediations between system (in particular, structure and function), agency (particularly, action and subject) and time (in particular, history and process). This problem arises due to a number of dichotomies. Historically, these various dichotomies can be grouped under four headings:
(1) Local vs. Global, which refers to the dichotomy of the local scale, on which individuals interact, and the global scale, on which society as a system is identified;
(2) Static vs. Dynamic, which refers to the dichotomy of the static aspect, which is a feature of situations and structures, and the dynamic aspect, which is a characteristic of interactions and processes;
(3) Circular vs. Open, which refers to the dichotomy of the circular form of the generative mechanisms operating in focal complex of analysis - often called "recursivity" (e.g., Giddens 1984) or "self-reference" (e.g., Luhmann 1984) - and the open form of connections between levels of analysis; and
(4) Continuous vs. Discontinuous, which refers to the dichotomy of the assumed continuous nature of history, which is often asserted by "grand narratives" (Lyotard), and the discontinuous nature of distinctive episodes, according to which there is no such thing as general plot for a historical process.
Summary of Chapters
1. The Four Problems of Social Theorizing: This chapter identifies the fundamental dichotomies (local-global, static-dynamic, circular-open, continuous-discontinuous) that constitute the primary micro-macro challenge in sociological theory.
2. The Two Levels of Facts: This chapter examines Lockwood’s distinction between social and system integration, framing them as the micro and macro levels that necessitate a temporal approach to structural conditioning and interaction.
3. The Three Worlds of Emergent Entities: This chapter introduces the ontological basis of analytical dualism by mapping structural, cultural, and personal emergent properties onto Popper’s three worlds.
4. The Interplay Between Levels and Worlds: This chapter details how observable events emerge from the intersection of non-observable entities and how analytical dualism resolves the heterogeneity of social life.
5. A Hypothesis for Further Research: This chapter evaluates the potential of combining multi-world ontology with multi-level methodology, comparing Archer’s realist approach with other paradigms such as Habermas’s theory of communicative action.
Keywords
Analytical Dualism, Realist Social Theory, Morphogenetic Approach, Micro-Macro Problem, Margaret Archer, Emergent Properties, Social Integration, System Integration, Popperian Three-World Ontology, Sociological Theorizing, Structural Conditioning, Social Agency.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
The paper focuses on reconstructing the core architecture of Margaret Archer's realist social theory to address the persistent micro-macro problem in sociology through the lens of analytical dualism.
What are the central thematic fields discussed?
The central fields include social ontology, the methodology of linking micro and macro levels, the nature of emergent properties, and the philosophical foundations of sociological explanation.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to propose that a solution for the multi-faceted micro-macro problem is found by combining a multi-world ontology (based on Popper) with a multi-level methodology (based on Lockwood and Archer).
Which scientific methodology is utilized?
The author employs a reconstructive philosophical analysis, evaluating Archer’s "morphogenetic approach" and comparing it with other "grand syntheses" like those of Habermas and Giesen.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body covers the identification of the four micro-macro problems, the mechanics of social and system integration, the classification of emergent properties into three worlds, and the temporal nature of structural conditioning.
Which keywords best characterize the research?
Key terms include Analytical Dualism, Morphogenetic Approach, Emergent Properties, Social Integration, System Integration, and Realist Social Theory.
How does the author interpret Popper's three-world model?
The author argues that structural, cultural, and personal emergent properties map effectively onto Popper’s physical, mental, and ideational worlds, providing an ontological ground for social life.
What is the significance of the "morphogenetic cycle" described in the text?
The cycle serves to link structural conditioning, social interaction, and structural elaboration over time, explaining how structures exert causal influence and are subsequently reproduced or changed by agents.
- Quote paper
- Alexander Hong Lam Vu (Author), 1999, Multi-level Methodology and Multi-world Ontology: A Core Architecture of Realist Social Theory, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1212
