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Analytical and Rational-Choice-Oriented Sociology: Friends or Foes?
Analytical and Rational-Choice-Oriented Sociology: Friends or Foes?
Tuesday, 12 July 2016: 10:45-12:15
Location: Hörsaal 27 (Main Building)
RC45 Rational Choice (host committee) Language: English
Over the last ten years or so, analytical sociology has received increasing recognition but also a sizeable set of critiques. One of them stresses the lack of distinctiveness of analytical sociology compared to rational choice theory. This specific point has been raised in important papers by scholars from a variety of theoretical orientations such as A. Abbott, N. Gross, D. Little, K.-D. Opp or, more recently, C. Kronenberg and F. Kalter. From within analytical sociology, several contributions, by G. Manzo, and, more recently, P. Hedström and P. Ylikoski, attempted to counter this objection. The debate is complicated by the fact that, on deeper scrutiny, both analytical sociology and rational choice-inspired sociology are internally heterogenous.
This invited session aims to get together the best scholars that specifically wrote on the similarities and differences between analytical sociology and rational choice theory. The goal is to stimulate a frank confrontation in order to assess the possibility to reach a “friendly agreement” or a new synthesis.
Session Organizer: