The Methodology of Formal Theorizing

Abstract

Our approach to the theory of images of stratification involves two major methodological elements that we will explicate in this chapter. These are, first, a generalizing orientation as contrasted with a particularizing or idiographic orientation, and secondly, a deductive orientation as contrasted with a purely discursive orientation. After having discussed these two orientation elements, in the remainder of this chapter we will discuss several specific formal methods that we employ in our theoretical work and that implement these two general methodological orientation elements. This subsequent discussion will deal with models in sociology and with the mathematical axiomatic method that we will employ starting in Chapter 3.