Jean-Sébastien Guy

Bio: Jean-Sébastien Guy is an academic researcher from Dalhousie University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Globalization & Structure and agency. The author has an hindex of 5, co-authored 18 publications receiving 77 citations.

Bourdieu, Giddens and Foucault Through the Metric/Nonmetric Distinction

Abstract: The metric/nonmetric distinction not only provides a solution to the problem of structure and agency (diagnosed as case of forced perspective) but also help in bringing a renewed unity in the field of sociological theory. This chapter uses the distinction to organize the ideas of Pierre Bourdieu, Anthony Giddens and Michel Foucault along a single continuum. Bourdieu’s concepts (field, habitus, capital, practice) illuminate the nonmetric aspects of social reality while missing the metric ones. Giddens offers the opposite image: his structuration theory sheds light on the metric aspects of social reality (notably through the concept of time-space distanciation), but leaves the nonmetric aspects in the dark. Foucault falls in-between the two: his analysis of power mixes nonmetric elements with metric ones, although he fails to formulate the relation between them in the form of one distinction.

Form and Medium in Luhmann’s Systems Theory

Abstract: While the concepts of metric and nonmetric aim at describing different social forms, the latter co-exist side by side in social reality, thus making for the possibility of one form impacting on another. To account for these conditions, this chapter turns to Niklas Luhmann to discuss his concept of medium. After a quick overview of Luhmann’s systems theory, the chapter develops a critical reflection in order to introduce the concept of crowd as a medium in itself—not any crowd, but a metaphorical crowd made out of countless individuals and extending infinitely in all directions—and makes the point that communications as operations of social systems taking place inside that crowd need not be always reduced to a conversation between two participants (dyadic model). The second half of the chapter discusses Luhmann’s theory of modernity and shows how his analysis, once partially adapted, correlates with the metric/nonmetric distinction.

Applying the Metric/Nonmetric Distinction

Abstract: Now that the presentation of the three layers model is completed, the next step is to demonstrate how to use it for conducting empirical research. What is of interest is the impact that one form in social reality can have on another form. Four distinct cases can be considered: (1) how a nonmetric form interacts with another nonmetric form; (2) how a nonmetric form interacts with a metric form; (3) how a metric form interacts with a nonmetric form; and (4) how a metric form interacts with another metric form. The last case is of special importance since it indicates how social change can occur in an anonymous manner, that is, unbeknownst to social actors. As an illustration, the chapter offers a rereading of Max Weber’s late theory of capitalism. Weber’s analysis not only stresses the successive displacements of religious identities (nonmetric forms) but also the progressive accumulation of universal practices (metric forms).

Spencer-Brown, Luhmann and Klein on Symmetry

Abstract: Abstract This article discusses the concept of symmetry as Felix Klein developed it in his works on geometry as a measure of invariance. The objective is to generalize from Klein’s model and principles to be able to apply the concept of symmetry to the study of social structures or social formations in sociology. To achieve this goal, the article goes on to consider how the concept of symmetry bears on the Laws of Form of George Spencer-Brown and on Niklas Luhmann’s theory of functional differentiation. Both of them are reinterpreted in terms of symmetry breaking.

Structure and Agency: Problem and Solution

Abstract: This chapter discusses the problem of structure and agency. Structure and agency inescapably contradict each other so that sociological analysis perpetually undermines itself. Ironically, this situation arose out of the development of sociology as a discipline. This chapter shows a way out of this problem by presenting the picture given by the concepts of structure and agency as a case of forced perspective inducing of a loss of depth in sociological imagination. We can correct this optical illusion by adopting metric/nonmetric in place of structure/agency as guiding distinction. To assemble the metric/nonmetric distinction, we have to operationalize the structure/agency distinction as well as the micro/macro distinction and the individual/society distinction: none of these distinctions applies universally; they all vary from context to context. The metric/nonmetric distinction offers the means for reconstituting these variations and for restoring the perception of depth as the difference in modalities between cases.

Cognition In The Wild

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Law as a Social System

Abstract: No abstract available.

Qu'est-ce que la philosophie?

Abstract: La conception de l'essence de la philosophie qui vient d'etre esquissee paraitrait se recommander pour plusieurs raisons: a) Elle presente la philosophie comme etant une science, en intention et potentiellement, au meme sens du mot „science“ que par exemple la physique ou la biologie: mais une science dont le sujet propre de recherches est different de celui des sciences naturelles; et d'ailleurs une science qui n'est pas encore tres avancee, parce que son sujet propre, et la methode de recherche qui lui est appropriee n'ont generalement pas ete discernes d'une facon adequate. b) En faisant une distinction entre les problemes pratiques a resoudre par la philosophie, et les problemes de philosophie, qui sont theoriques, notre conception rend justice, d'une part a l'opinion que la reflection philosophique peut et doit contribuer a la sagesse dans la conduite des affaires pratiques, et d'autre part au fait que beaucoup des problemes theoriques de la philosophie sont aussi abstrus, abstraits et techniques, et en apparence aussi denues d'implications pratiques, que beaucoup des problemes de physique theorique ou des mathematiques pures; mais la relation entre la theorie et la pratique est logiquement la meme dans les deux cas. En consequence meme les questions philosophiques les plus abstraites, quand elles ne sont pas des pseudo-questions et sont bien posees, ont potentiellement une importance pratique de l'espece particuliere qui a ete indiquee. c) La conception de la philosophie que nous avons ebauchee fait place, dans le domaine general de la philosophie, non seulement a la morale et aux autres branches de la philosophie dites normatives, mais aussi a la metaphysique et a l'epistemologie, tant que les hypotheses de ces dernieres ne sont pas dogmatiques, mais peuvent etre mises a l'epreuve consistant a voir si elles s'accordent avec les faits observables de l'espece appropriee, aussi bien qu'a l'epreuve de coherence interne et de coherence reciproque ou mutuelle. d) La conception philosophique presentee specifie quelle est l'espece de faits pouvant servir de reference pour controler empiriquement la validite ou l'invalidite des speculations philosophiques quand elles ne sont pas presentees comme des revelations d'oracle, et ainsi rend claire la forme particuliere que la methode scientifique, generatrice de connaissances, et non de simples croyances, doit assumer, lorsqu'elle est appliquee au sujet de recherches qui distingue la philosophie des autres sciences. e) Finalement, notre conception met en relief le fait que les mots (et en particulier les termes de valeur, et autres termes philosophiques) sont des outils crees par l'homme tout autant qu'une hache, un moteur electrique ou une maison; que les mots sont les moyens les plus typiques par lesquels les hommes s'influencent reciproquement, et enfin que les mots influencent les sentiments, les croyances et les actions, meme quand ils sont mal compris ou employes a tort. En consequence l'analyse ou la fixation de leur signification, qui permet de les appliquer avec discernement et sans malentendu aux faits, actions ou evenements concrets, est une tâche de la plus haute importance pour l'homme vivant en societe.