Marginalization Theory: the Problem with Structure and Agency Theories
Julie Vulpius Gregersen Marginalization Sociology Fall 2011
Marginalization Sociology Copenhagen University Fall 2011 By Professor Leopold Galicki Exam option B, written assignment Subject option: 3 – concepts of structure and agency Total number pages: 12 Total number signs: 25.560 Student Julie Vulpius Gregersen CPR: 280887-1958
Table of contents Introduction………………………………………………..... ………………………………………2 Concepts of marginalization sociology………………………………………………………………2 Outline of the debate…………………………………………………………………………………4 Two attempts for a better conception………………………………………………………………...6 Relating structure and agency to the marginalization typology……………………………………...8 How is marginalization a matter of subject and object?.....................................................................10 Final words and conclusion…………………………………………………………………………11 Literature……………………………………………………………………………………… …...12
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Julie Vulpius Gregersen Marginalization Sociology Fall 2011
Structure versus agency
Introduction A sociological congress in Tübingen in 1961 manifested a discussion troubling the social sciences for decades. It was a discussion between Adorno and Popper, and later on, Albert and Habermas about philosophy of science and how to conduct scientific research. To its core the debate was dichotominal: Are we as human beings capable of describing an objective reality objectively or is even the scientist merely a subject interpreting a socially constructed reality?1. Parallel and related with this debate, the debates of micro-macro, subject-object and – structure-agency have persisted. They contain questions of ontological, epistemological, methodological and even ideological character. When taking side in the debate one also takes side in questions such as “how is society created?”, “what is reality”, “how free is Man?” and “how can we reach ‘the truth’”? In this paper I will try to outline the two major poles in the
Marginalization Sociology Copenhagen University Fall 2011 By Professor Leopold Galicki Exam option B, written assignment Subject option: 3 – concepts of structure and agency Total number pages: 12 Total number signs: 25.560 Student Julie Vulpius Gregersen CPR: 280887-1958
Table of contents Introduction………………………………………………..... ………………………………………2 Concepts of marginalization sociology………………………………………………………………2 Outline of the debate…………………………………………………………………………………4 Two attempts for a better conception………………………………………………………………...6 Relating structure and agency to the marginalization typology……………………………………...8 How is marginalization a matter of subject and object?.....................................................................10 Final words and conclusion…………………………………………………………………………11 Literature……………………………………………………………………………………… …...12
1
Julie Vulpius Gregersen Marginalization Sociology Fall 2011
Structure versus agency
Introduction A sociological congress in Tübingen in 1961 manifested a discussion troubling the social sciences for decades. It was a discussion between Adorno and Popper, and later on, Albert and Habermas about philosophy of science and how to conduct scientific research. To its core the debate was dichotominal: Are we as human beings capable of describing an objective reality objectively or is even the scientist merely a subject interpreting a socially constructed reality?1. Parallel and related with this debate, the debates of micro-macro, subject-object and – structure-agency have persisted. They contain questions of ontological, epistemological, methodological and even ideological character. When taking side in the debate one also takes side in questions such as “how is society created?”, “what is reality”, “how free is Man?” and “how can we reach ‘the truth’”? In this paper I will try to outline the two major poles in the