The Theory of Social Change and Social Evolution

Abstract

I come now to the final discussion of this analysis of Parsonian theory. It is fitting to make the theory of social change and social evolution the object of this discussion because of the unique significance of this topic area to Parsons’ work in general. To begin with, it is no exaggeration to say that it is over the problem of social change that most of the controversy surrounding his work is centred. Secondly, this area is an extremely good index of the various ‘phases’ through which Parsonian theory has gone. There have indeed been several major alterations to the theory of action and this is most clearly reflected in the analysis of change.