Class and Organization as Paradigms in Social Science

R. W. Friedrich's application to sociology of T. S. Kuhn's studies in the history of science is criticized on the grounds that it promotes unnecessary politicization and retards empirically sound theory-building. An alternative application is suggested defining paradigms on the substantive...

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Veröffentlicht in:The American sociologist 1976-02, Vol.11 (1), p.38-49
1. Verfasser: Westhues, Kenneth
Format: Artikel
Sprache:eng
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Zusammenfassung:R. W. Friedrich's application to sociology of T. S. Kuhn's studies in the history of science is criticized on the grounds that it promotes unnecessary politicization and retards empirically sound theory-building. An alternative application is suggested defining paradigms on the substantive basis of which unit of analysis they choose to emphasize. Class and organization perspectives are contrasted and four issues of contention between them are reviewed. The distinction between class and organization paradigms is shown to cut across Friedrich's distinction between prophets and priests: a focus on divergent substantive paradigms is offered as a more fruitful means of understanding conflicts within social science and of encouraging the progress of the discipline.
ISSN:0003-1232
1936-4784