Against Essentialism : A Theory of Culture and Society

I've had Stephan Fuchs for two classes at the University of Virginia. Not only is he a great professor, but also a great writer. Against Essentialism presents his views on cultural systems in as clear a manner as is possible given the complexity of the subject. This is a book that should be required reading for sociology courses, but is probably a little deep for those who have never taken a social theory course. Contents......Page 8 Introduction......Page 14 1. Theory after Essentialism......Page 25 Accounting for the Observer......Page 30 Observing Observers......Page 33 Levels of Observing......Page 37 Ideological Conflicts in Observation......Page 42 Inside and Outside Observers......Page 48 Value-Freedom and Disinterestedness......Page 53 The Myth of “Going Native”......Page 56 A Few Pretty Old Rules of Method......Page 60 The Classics Revisited, Briefly......Page 71 Networks and Systems......Page 76 Some Elements of a Working Epistemology......Page 80 The Crisis of Representation......Page 84 Underdetermination and Theory-Ladenness......Page 87 The Indeterminacy of Translation......Page 91 Empiricizing Contexts and Demarcations......Page 97 Incommensurability......Page 105 The Double Hermeneutic......Page 108 Things and Persons......Page 117 3. Cultural Rationality......Page 124 After Reason......Page 128 Causes and Reasons......Page 129 The Unity of Persons......Page 132 What Do Persons Want and Believe?......Page 136 Decisions, Decisions......Page 140 How to Locate Rationality......Page 144 Some Covariates of Rationality......Page 145 4. Foundations of Culture......Page 151 Never Minds......Page 152 Who Knows? No Idea!......Page 160 The Meanings of Meaning......Page 163 Observing Culture and Cultural Observers......Page 164 What Is in a Culture?......Page 168 Cultural Stratification......Page 172 Art......Page 178 Reputation......Page 198 5. Modes of Social Association I: Encounters, Groups, and Organizations......Page 204 The Bodies and Brains of Persons......Page 206 Emotional Selves......Page 210 Levels of Society......Page 212 Encounters......Page 216 Groups......Page 224 Organizations......Page 237 Variations in Organizational Cultures......Page 257 6. Modes of Social Association II: Networks......Page 264 Drift......Page 267 Fields of Forces......Page 269 Power to the Networks......Page 272 Metabolism......Page 276 Renormalization......Page 279 Autopoiesis......Page 283 Self-Similarity......Page 285 Unity......Page 288 Boundaries......Page 289 Network Expansions......Page 291 Networks of Culture......Page 293 7. Realism Explained......Page 306 A Continuum of Realism......Page 311 Core Expansions and Time......Page 314 Machines......Page 317 Instruction......Page 321 Density......Page 322 Monopoly and Hegemony......Page 324 Competition and Decentralization......Page 327 Literacy and Printing......Page 330 Orality, Perception, and Copresence......Page 335 Consensus......Page 339 Distance and Frontstages......Page 342 Conclusion......Page 344 References......Page 354 Index......Page 380 Contents 8 Introduction 14 1. Theory after Essentialism 25 Accounting for the Observer 30 Observing Observers 33 Levels of Observing 37 Ideological Conflicts in Observation 42 Inside and Outside Observers 48 Value-Freedom and Disinterestedness 53 The Myth of “Going Native” 56 A Few Pretty Old Rules of Method 60 The Classics Revisited, Briefly 71 Networks and Systems 76 Some Elements of a Working Epistemology 80 2. How to Sociologize with a Hammer 84 The Crisis of Representation 84 Underdetermination and Theory-Ladenness 87 The Indeterminacy of Translation 91 Empiricizing Contexts and Demarcations 97 Incommensurability 105 The Double Hermeneutic 108 Things and Persons 117 3. Cultural Rationality 124 After Reason 128 Causes and Reasons 129 The Unity of Persons 132 What Do Persons Want and Believe? 136 Decisions, Decisions 140 How to Locate Rationality 144 Some Covariates of Rationality 145 4. Foundations of Culture 151 Never Minds 152 Who Knows? No Idea! 160 The Meanings of Meaning 163 Observing Culture and Cultural Observers 164 What Is in a Culture? 168 Cultural Stratification 172 Art 178 Reputation 198 5. Modes of Social Association I: Encounters, Groups, and Organizations 204 The Bodies and Brains of Persons 206 Emotional Selves 210 Levels of Society 212 Encounters 216 Groups 224 Organizations 237 Variations in Organizational Cultures 257 6. Modes of Social Association II: Networks 264 Drift 267 Fields of Forces 269 Power to the Networks 272 Metabolism 276 Renormalization 279 Autopoiesis 283 Self-Similarity 285 Unity 288 Boundaries 289 Network Expansions 291 Networks of Culture 293 7. Realism Explained 306 A Continuum of Realism 311 Core Expansions and Time 314 Machines 317 Instruction 321 Density 322 Monopoly and Hegemony 324 Competition and Decentralization 327 Literacy and Printing 330 Orality, Perception, and Copresence 335 Consensus 339 Distance and Frontstages 342 Conclusion 344 References 354 Index 380

against Essentialism Presents A Sociological Theory Of Culture. This Interdisciplinary And Foundational Work Deals With Basic Issues Common To Current Debates In Social Theory, Including Society, Culture, Meaning, Truth, And Communication. Stephan Fuchs Argues That Many Mysteries About These Concepts Lose Their Mysteriousness When Dynamic Variations Are Introduced.

fuchs Proposes A Theory Of Culture And Society That Merges Two Core Traditions--american Network Theory And European (luhmannian) Systems Theory. His Book Distinguishes Four Major Types Of Social Observers--encounters, Groups, Organizations, And Networks. Society Takes Place In These Four Modes Of Association. Each Generates Levels Of Observation Linked With Each Other Into A Culture--the Unity Of These Observations.

against Essentialism Presents A Groundbreaking New Approach To The Construction Of Society, Culture, And Personhood. The Book Invites Both Social Scientists And Philosophers To See What Happens When Essentialism Is Abandoned.

Against Essentialism presents a sociological theory of culture. This interdisciplinary and foundational work deals with basic issues common to current debates in social theory, including society, culture, meaning, truth, and communication. Stephan Fuchs argues that many mysteries about these concepts lose their mysteriousness when dynamic variations are introduced.

Fuchs proposes a theory of culture and society that merges two core traditions—American network theory and European (Luhmannian) systems theory. His book distinguishes four major types of social "observers"—encounters, groups, organizations, and networks. Society takes place in these four modes of association. Each generates levels of observation linked with each other into a "culture"—the unity of these observations.

Against Essentialism presents a groundbreaking new approach to the construction of society, culture, and personhood. The book invites both social scientists and philosophers to see what happens when essentialism is abandoned.

Annotation Against Essentialism presents a sociological theory of culture. This interdisciplinary and foundational work deals with basic issues common to current debates in social theory, including society, culture, meaning, truth, and communication. Stephan Fuchs argues that many mysteries about these concepts lose their mysteriousness when dynamic variations are introduced. Fuchs proposes a theory of culture and society that merges two core traditions--American network theory and European (Luhmannian) systems theory. His book distinguishes four major types of social "observers"--Encounters, groups, organizations, and networks. Society takes place in these four modes of association. Each generates levels of observation linked with each other into a "culture"--the unity of these observations. Against Essentialism presents a groundbreaking new approach to the construction of society, culture, and personhood. The book invites both social scientists and philosophers to see what happens when essentialism is abandoned Against Essentialism presents a sociological theory of culture. This interdisciplinary and foundational work deals with basic issues common to current debates in social theory, including society, culture, meaning, truth, and communication. Stephan Fuchs argues that many mysteries about these concepts lose their mysteriousness when dynamic variations are introduced.Fuchs proposes a theory of culture and society that merges two core traditions -- American network theory and European (Luhmannian) systems theory. His book distinguishes four major types of social "observers" -- encounters, groups, organizations, and networks. Society takes place in these four modes of association. Each generates levels of observation linked with each other into a "culture" -- the unity of these observations.Against Essentialism presents a groundbreaking new approach to the construction of society, culture, and personhood. The book invites both social scientists and philosophers to see what happens when essentialism is abandoned. "Against Essentialism" presents a sociological theory of culture. This interdisciplinary and foundational work deals with basic issues common to contemporary debates in social theory, including society, culture, meaning, truth, and communication. Stephan Fuchs argues that many mysteries about these concepts lose their mysteriousness when dynamic variations are introduced