Showing papers on "Agency (philosophy) published in 1979"

The Possibility of Naturalism: A Philosophical Critique of the Contemporary Human Sciences

Abstract: 1. Transcendental Realism and the Problem of Naturalism 2. Societies 3. Agency 4. Philosophies

Reality Construction in Interaction

Abstract: Any sociological study has at least an implicit concern with reality construc­ tion, considered as the generation and maintenance of some organization of affairs, whether a family or a factory, a friendship or an illness. For mem­ bers of society, this.' 'reality" is the unquestioned conceptualization of what they are doing and the context in which it is done. In most sociological work, the analyst shares this cO!lceptualization, which becomes the unques­ tioned resource for his work. The studies reviewed below make members' and analysts' conceptualizations of reality problematic. Both how and why this problem is studied in sociology vary so extremely that reviewing the relevant work runs the risk either of lacking integration or of imposing inte­ gration on studies that have little epistemological or substantive common­ ality. Both problems persist despite the exclusion of much work that might be considered relevant to the topic. Still , a common research concern exists; without wishing to circumscribe a "sociology of reality construc­ tion," a review that clarifies relationships among past research may sug­ gest certain future directions. Making reality construction problematic raises two questions. First, how much active agency do individuals enjoy in "constructing" social realities, and second, how malleable are most "realities" to the constructive activities of members? These questions are, of course, opposite sides of the same coin; for both, the issue seems to be the place of structure in any concep­ .tualization of social life. Understood only in its literal meaning, Thomas's famous theorem-if men define situations to be real, they are real in their consequences-seems

Agency, Action, and Meaning ‘In’ Movement: An Introduction to Three New Terms

Abstract: (1979). Agency, Action, and Meaning ‘In’ Movement: An Introduction to Three New Terms. Journal of the Philosophy of Sport: Vol. 6, No. 1, pp. 49-57.

The management of public agencies in an inter-organisational context

Abstract: This study focusses on three distinct yet interrelated topics; the development and growth of the public agency as an administrative form, the methods whereby the activities of public agencies might be more fully integrated with the activities of Local Authorities through inter-corporate planning, and the changes necessary in planning education to effect a role re-definition in planning to enable planners to become equipped for the inter-corporate dimension. In response to criticism of those theories of planning which fail to take into account the macro-societal context of planners' activities, Chapter One discusses the macro-sociological perspectives of both Marxist analysis (in two of its variant forms) and Corporatist thought in an attempt to explain the particular forms that state activity may take. However, a functionalist bias dominates these schools of thought and it is suggested that in order to explain more fully the growth of public agencies and the particular administrative form they may take, it is necessary to develop more specific micro-theories of agency growth and a critical appraisal of these is developed in Chapter Two. After a further critical appraisal of attempts at taxonomy and classification of public agencies which ultimately proves somewhat unproductive, this discussion is concluded by suggesting that, although government agencies differ in a number of ways in their relationship with both Central Government and other organisations, they can be reduced to one common denominator, that is the fact that they are all organisations. This perspective is used to widen the conventionally held assumptions about agency accountability into the much more realistic view of agency discretion (a point which it is suggested could be much further developed by future research). After suggesting a tentative classification scheme as a guide for Local Authorities, this is used as a surrogate measure to estimate the numbers of such bodies likely to interact most frequently with Local Authorities although, as is emphasised in the text, these numbers are closer to 'guestimates' due to the inadequacies of conventional definitions. Chapter Three, after a brief discussion of the inadequacies of conventional views of central-local relations, illustrates the consequences of agency interaction in situations where inter-corporate coordination has been poor. In an attempt to look more deeply at the methods of co-ordination suggested by the few authors who have considered it, it is argued that one needs to discuss inter-agency interaction from the perspective of inter-organisational analysis in order to fully understand the way in which government agencies interact in a dynamic setting. Given that this literature is diffuse, the subject is approached through a consideration of the work of three authors in order to highlight the most significant points. Management techniques and Organisational Design are introduced in the last sections of this chapter. The concepts and ideas introduced in Chapter Three are more fully applied in analysing multiple-organisation situations in the public sector in Chapter Pour. After focussing briefly on corporate planning and management in order to characterise the orthodox views of public sector management and its weakness when applied inter-corporately three case examples, the Glasgow Eastern Area Renewal Scheme, the Passenger Transport Executives and the Scottish Regional Reports, are critically appraised in terms of their original organisational design (iii) and the results that they were intended to achieve. Consideration of these examples serves to demonstrate the inherent conservatism in the respect of organisational autonomy in what were intended to be fully comprehensive attempts at 'planning', and specific suggestions for improvements are included. Having emphasised that the realities of public policy-making are inter-corporate, the final concluding chapter looks at how a role re-definition of planning may be effected through changes in planning education in order to bring some order again to urban change. It is suggested that planners have developed intra-corporate techniques which could be usefully developed for the management of inter-corporate situations, although, as is pointed out, the 'urban management' debate has been unnecessarily stigmatised through the writings of Pahl. Having shown that Pahl's concerns were in fact very much narrower than the concerns of this study, concern is shifted to looking at how inter- organisational analysis can be included in planning education. Using the work of Faludi as a basis for the consideration of the role of theory in planning education, criticism is directed at his procedural/ substantive distinction as a basis for the incorporation of inter- organisational analysis into planning education. The study concludes with suggestions for integration of inter-organisational sociology into planning schools' curricula and ends with the exhortation for a professional role re-definition on the basis of a changing view of the public sector.

Summary and prospects

Abstract: The evolution of these urban simulation models and their various successes and failures may be viewed from different perspectives. For the planner in an agency where one of the many unsuccessful attempts was made, such models may well be held in rather low esteem. In fairness, this is not an unreasonable position for such a person to take. Some economists have claimed that there was never any reason to expect that such models should work, as they (the models) were lacking a proper economic foundation. Although somewhat gratuitous, neither is this assertion wholly false. Other professionals, both planners and model builders, will claim many virtues of models and modelling as an approach to complex urban problems. They will assert, and will be correct in so doing, that much was learned about urban structure and dynamics from these models’ efforts. To say the least, there are many and diverse opinions.

Some organizational effectiveness determinants of a village change agency.

Abstract: Concept Output goal achievement Adaptiveness (Epistemic correlations #1:1 to 11) (Epistemic correlations #;12 to 17)

Reality construction + 10575 in interaction

Abstract: Any sociological study has at least an implicit concern with reality construction, considered as the generation and maintenance of some organization of affairs, whether a family or a factory, a friendship or an illness. For members of society, this "reality" is the unquestioned conceptualization of what they are doing and the context in which it is done. In most sociological work, the analyst shares this conceptualization, which becomes the unquestioned resource for his work. The studies reviewed below make members' and analysts' conceptualizations of reality problematic. Both how and why this problem is studied in sociology vary so extremely that reviewing the relevant work runs the risk either of lacking integration or of imposing integration on studies that have little epistemological or substantive commonality. Both problems persist despite the exclusion of much work that might be considered relevant to the topic. Still, a common research. concern exists; without wishing to circumscribe a "sociology of reality construction," a review that clarifies relationships among past research may suggest certain future directions. Making reality construction problematic raises two questions. First, how much active agency do individuals enjoy in "constructing" social realities, and second, how malleable are most "realities" to the constructive activities of members? These questions are, of course, opposite sides of the same coin; for both, the issue seems to be the place of structure in any conceptualization of social life. Understood only in its literal meaning, Thomas's famous theorem-if men define situations to be real, they are real in their consequences-seems

Agency and Scene in Jane Austen

Abstract: Jane Austen might easily be taken as one of the hardest of test cases for a thesis that the English novel is concerned with expressivity and vital human agency rather than with accommodation to comfortable middle-class values. Of all her novels the most difficult for such purposes is Mansfield Park. It is virtually a critical dogma that this novel differs from the rest in that it shows no evidence of Austen’s characteristic irony. For these reasons Mansfield Park is the obvious novel to consider with reference to the themes of irony and action. The purpose here is not to pick up all of the metaphors we have been encountering so far, but simply to demonstrate a continuity in the active spirit of the novel. The meaning of the novel reveals a consistency with the meanings we encounter in other novels by other authors. Fanny is a source of deep inner meaning, but she lacks significance. It is only when she begins to act in public, to give her meaning a form and shape in dramatic scenes, that her author’s ironic eye is willing to rest.