Journal ArticleDOI
The unanticipated consequences of purposive social action
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The problem of unanticipated consequences of purposive social action has been widely recognized and its importance equally appreciated, but no systematic, scientific analysis of it has as yet been effected.Abstract:
I N SOME ONE of its numerous forms, the problem of the unanticipated consequences of purposive action has been treated by virtually every substantial contributor to the long history of social thought.' The diversity of context' and variety of terms3 by which this problem has been known, however, have tended to obscure the definite continuity in its consideration. In fact, this diversity of context-ranging from theology to technology-has been so pronounced that not only has the substantial identity of the problem been overlooked, but no systematic, scientific analysis of it has as yet been effected. The failure to subject this problem to such thorough-going investigation has perhaps been due in part to its having been linked historically with transcendental and ethical considerations. Obviously, the ready solution provided by ascribing uncontemplated consequences of action to the inscrutable will of God or Providence or Fate precludes, in the mind of the believer, any need for scientific analysis. Whatever the actual reasons, the fact remains that though the process has been widely recognized and its importance equally appreciated, it still awaits a systematic treatment. Although the phrase, unanticipated consequences of purposive social action, is in a measure self-explanatory, the setting of the prob-read more
Citations
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The Amphibian, Melioristic Agenda for Dividuals: Tropological Oscillations versus Tropological Settlements
TL;DR: In this article, the authors argue that it is impossible to believe in perfectly purist ideologies that would not deviate from their putative, pre-established, holistic inner order, and argue that even though we are incapable of controlling and predicted the consequences of people's actions (entropology), we may still follow the principle of melioristic, amphibian, tropological and dividual oscillations and hope for serendipitous outcomes.
Journal ArticleDOI
Praying “Straight from the Heart”: Evangelical sincerity and the normative frames of culture in action
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Journal ArticleDOI
Media, Social Ontology and Intentionality: Notes from Meta-Theoretical Borders
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a meta-theoretical analysis of three broadly defined areas of academic work with substantial internal complexity and difference: mediatisation, reflexive modernisation and critical political economy of communication.
Journal ArticleDOI
Corporate Social Responsibility, Industry, and Strategy
Marc Orlitzky,Jie Shen +1 more
TL;DR: Although many typologies of corporate social responsibility exist (see, e.g., Carroll, 1999; Frederick, 1994; Matten & Moon, 2008; Rupp, Ganapathi, Aguilera, & Williams, 2006; Shen & Zhu, 2011), Aguinis and Glavas as mentioned in this paper reconceptualization is an important contribution because it shifts the focus to such micro issues as organizational behavior routines and other psychological foundations of CSR.
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Theoretische Alter(n)ssoziologie — Dämmertal oder Griff in die Wühlkiste der allgemeinen soziologischen Theorie?
TL;DR: In this paper, aufgabe zuwenden, das Theoriedefizit zu beseitigen, Schritt fair Schritt, was denn der ‚Griff in die Wuhlkiste‘ bringe.
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