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Paradigms and Foundational Philosophies

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Abstract

Social theory can usefully be conceived in terms of four key paradigms: functionalist, interpretive, radical humanist, and radical structuralist. The four paradigms are founded upon different assumptions about the nature of social science and the nature of society. Each generates theories, concepts, and analytical tools which are different from those of other paradigms.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    This work borrows heavily from the ideas and insights of Burrell and Morgan (1979) and Morgan (1983) and applies them to various aspects of the academic life. Burrell and Morgan (1979) state “The scope for applying the analytical scheme to other field of study is enormous … readers interested in applying the scheme in this way should find little difficulty in proceeding from the sociological analyses ... to an analysis of the literature in their own sphere of specialised interest.” (page 35)

  2. 2.

    This can be used as both a classifactory device, or more importantly, as an analytical tool.

  3. 3.

    For classics in this literature see Blau (1955, 1964), Buckley (1967), Comte (1953), Durkheim (1938, 1947), James (1890), Mead (1932a, 1932b, 1934, 1938), Merton (1968), Pareto (1935), Simmel (1936, 1955), Skinner (1953, 1957, 1972), and Spencer (1873).

  4. 4.

    For classics in this literature see Berkeley (1962), Dilthey (1976), Gadamer (1965), Garfinkel (1967), Hegel (1931), Husserl (1929), Schutz (1964, 1966, 1967), Winch (1958), and Wittgenstein (1963).

  5. 5.

    For classics in this literature see Bookchin (1974), Fichte (1970), Goldmann (1969), Gouldner (1954a, 1954b, 1970, 1973, 1976), Gramsci (1971), Habermas (1970a, 1970b, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1976), Horkheimer (1972), Lukacs (1971), Marcuse (1954, 1964, 1966, 1968), Marx (1975), Meszaros (1970, 1971), Sartre (1966, 1974, 1976), and Stirner (1907).

  6. 6.

    For classics in this literature see Althusser (1969, 1971), Althusser and Balibar (1970), Bukharin (1965), Colletti (1972, 1974, 1975), Dahrendorf (1959), Marx (1973, 1976), Marx and Engels (1965, 1968), Plekhanov (1974), and Rex (1961, 1974).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Management, Marist College, Poughkeepsie, NY, USA

    Kavous Ardalan

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Ardalan, K. (2018). Paradigms and Foundational Philosophies. In: Case Method and Pluralist Economics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-72071-5_1

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