Functionalism, Exchange and Theoretical Strategy (RLE Social Theory) (Routledge Library Editions: Social Theory)

M.J. Mulkay traces the development of certain recent versions of functionalism and exchange theory in sociology, with special attention to 'theoretical strategy'. He uses this term to refer to the policies which theorists adopt to ensure that their work contributes to their long range theoretical objectives. Such strategies are important, he believes, because they place limits on the theories with which they are associated. He shows how each of the theorists he studies devised a new strategy to replace the unsuccessful policies of a prior theory in a process of 'strategical dialectic'. This often has unforeseen consequences for the direction of theoretical growth, and the author interprets changes in theoretical perspective largely as products of these strategical innovations. Timely and original, this collection of essays from the leading figures in their fields throws new and valuable light on the significance and future of flânerie. The flâneur is usually identified as the 'man of the crowd' of Edgar Allen Poe and Charles Baudelaire, and as one of the heroes of Walter Benjamin's Arcades Project. The flâneur's activities of strolling and loitering are mentioned increasingly frequently in sociology, cultural studies and art history, but rarely is the debate developed further. The Flâneur is the first book to develop the debate beyond Baudelaire and Benjamin Cover 1 Half Title 2 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Original Title Page 6 Original Copyright Page 7 Dedication 8 Table of Contents 10 Preface 12 1 Introduction 14 2 A general theory of society: Pareto 22 3 Structural-functionalism as a theoretical alternative: Parsons 49 4 An assessment of Parsons' scheme 79 5 A second functional alternative: Merton 107 6 Functionalism rejected: Homans 135 7 A theory of social exchange: Homans 159 8 A conceptual elaboration of exchange theory: Blau 192 9 Sociological theory and theoretical strategy 226 Notes 254 Bibliography 266 Index 270 This volume provides a fascinating perspective on the social sciences through its examination of the leading proponents, their ideas and careers. It includes useful suggestions for further reading. All the great names in the history of the subject are here - Freud, Marx, Weber, Adam Smith and so on - along with many less prominent but nevertheless important thinkers.