Logical Formalizing in the Social Sciences: A Case Study

It is generally assumed that scientific theories should be consistent & coherent. However, inconsistencies, incoherencies, & other logical defects are hard to detect when theory is explained in natural languages, eg, English. The translation of a theory to a logical language makes its structure more explicit & easier to repair. Additionally, new hypotheses can be produced from a specific theory by utilizing formal machinery. In this light, the formalization of a theory expressed in natural language translated into logical language is performed on the basis of Michael T. Hannan's & John Freeman's "Structural Inertia and Organizational Change" (see SA 32:3/84N9430). After examining key logical properties, new theorems are developed. 2 Tables, 2 Figures, 32 References. Adapted from the source document.