The Active Society RevisitedThe Active Society, published in 1968, is the most ambitious book in Amitai Etzioni's remarkable career. It is sociology in the grand tradition, with at least one foot outside its own time. In it, Etzioni confronts the great modern irony- that setting out to become the masters of nature, humans become mastered by their own instruments- championing the sense of agency and aiming to demonstrate that humanity can direct its own creations, or at least, that societies can aspire to a greater measure of authentic self-government. In this new collection of essays, Wilson Carey McWilliams brings together scholars in a range of disciplines to analyze the significance and shortcomings of this important work. They comment on the importance of Etzioni's contributions, the magnitude of his achievement, and the extent to which The Active Society speaks to contemporary social and political life. |
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Page 33
actors ; and those linked to value structures are best suited for providing actors
with ethical gain . ... enhancing social - structural sites of symbols with a look at
value structures ( or just plain “ values ” — I use the terms interchangeably ) .
actors ; and those linked to value structures are best suited for providing actors
with ethical gain . ... enhancing social - structural sites of symbols with a look at
value structures ( or just plain “ values ” — I use the terms interchangeably ) .
Page 78
Since conflicts in modern societies not only comprise diverging interests , but
also differences in values and norms , it is important to ... Obviously an active
society is not meant to be a society with numerous and vast irreducible value
conflicts .
Since conflicts in modern societies not only comprise diverging interests , but
also differences in values and norms , it is important to ... Obviously an active
society is not meant to be a society with numerous and vast irreducible value
conflicts .
Page 339
Basic Values What holds for basic human needs also holds for basic values . If
one adopts a multicultural or relativistic position , or some kind of Foucault - like
deconstructionism , one is left with normative dust . After all , your position is just
as ...
Basic Values What holds for basic human needs also holds for basic values . If
one adopts a multicultural or relativistic position , or some kind of Foucault - like
deconstructionism , one is left with normative dust . After all , your position is just
as ...
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Contents
Introduction | 1 |
The Cultural Dimensions of The Active Society | 23 |
The Cybernetic Institutionalist | 53 |
Copyright | |
14 other sections not shown
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Common terms and phrases
able action Active Society actors agency alienation American analysis appear argues argument associations authentic basic become building bundles called capacity citizens civil collective collective actors commitment complex concept concerns consensus constitutional corporate Court create critical culture decisions democracy democratic direction discussion effective efforts elites empirical equality especially Etzioni example fact forces forms goals greater groups human idea important increase individual institutions interests issues kind knowledge least Left less liberal limited means mobilization moral movement needs normative notes observes organizational organizations participation particular political possible potential practices Press problem produce provides question rape requires responsive Review role rules sense social Sociology structures success suffrage suggests symbolic theory tion transformation understanding United University values violence women York