Social Theory

Essay # 53799

Sociology > Theory

Social Theory

A discussion on the importance of studying individuals in a social context.

1,540 words () | 11 sources | MLA | 2004 United Kingdom

Paper Summary:

This paper outlines the various strands in social theory which have played an important role in the debate about the relations between the individual, society and social activity. It concentrates on some important "dualisms" in sociology such as macro-micro, agency-structure and individual-society and therefore provides a clear understanding about whether individuals are a product of their personality or the social context in which they are embedded.

From the Paper:

"Social theory can be seen as a collection of ideas and thoughts which strive towards fitting together individual and collective needs in society (Becker 1970). Moreover, social theory is not necessarily diverse and irredeemably fragmented since that theory is never completely isolated of empirical research, any more that empirical research is free from theoretical assumptions (Layder1994). This concept is expressed in the pairings "individual-society", "agency-structure" and "macro-micro". These are the key dualisms in social theory which constitutes undoubtedly a persistent dilemma when trying to determine how social order is created and what individual motivations make up society."