Sociological Theory and Collective Subjectivity

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-ix

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2. Synthesis and Causality

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

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   2. Active and Conditioning Causality in Sociological Theory

      • José Maurício Dọmingues

      Pages 3-21

   3. Individuals, Structures and Systems in Giddens’ Structuration Theory

      • José Maurício Dọmingues

      Pages 22-38

   4. Life-World and System in Habermas’ Historical Materialism

      • José Maurício Dọmingues

      Pages 39-57

3. Two Concepts Of Collective Subjectivity

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 59-59

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   2. Marx: the Critique of Liberalism and the Social Classes

      • José Maurício Dọmingues

      Pages 61-77

   3. Parsons: Social Systems and Collective Actors

      • José Maurício Dọmingues

      Pages 78-92

4. Social Systems And Collective Subjectivity

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 93-93

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   2. Introduction: Theory and Synthesis

      • José Maurício Dọmingues

      Pages 95-96

   3. Interaction, System and Structure

      • José Maurício Dọmingues

      Pages 97-109

   4. The Constitution of Collective Subjectivities

      • José Maurício Dọmingues

      Pages 110-126

   5. Collective Subjectivity and Multidimensionality

      • José Maurício Dọmingues

      Pages 127-147

   6. Conclusion

      • José Maurício Dọmingues

      Pages 148-164

5. Back Matter

   Pages 165-205

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The main theme of this book is collective subjectivity, analysed especially in connection with the work of Marx, Parsons, Giddens and Habermas, but also addressing the manifold tendencies of sociological theory, from its inception to the present. The book supports the idea that there is a conceptual shortcoming in the most relevant contemporary research programs in sociological theory, despite some recent efforts to re-develop concepts of collective actor, class or social movement. After the fragmentation of the sixties a number of synthetical approaches emerged. Some writers, such as Touraine, Laclau and Mouffe, Olson, Coleman, Hindess, Mouzelis and Eder have proposed some versions of concepts of collective subjectivity, focusing on collective actors, classes, genders, social movements, organisations and collective utilitarian action. But they do not, in terms of general conceptual construction, go further than Parsons and Marx: they often fail to match their original formulations. The concept of collective subjectivity is introduced to bring together these diverse approaches, which are synthesised and receive a more general definition. Moreover, this new concept is directly linked to those contemporary syntheses.

• interaction
• Marx
• organization
• sociological theory
• sociology

• Social Sciences Department Institute for Philosophy and the Social Sciences, Rio de Janeiro Federal University, Brazil

  José Maurício Dọmingues

JOSE MAURICIO DOMINGUES

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