Something Old or Something New?: Complexity Theory and Sociology
Does complexity theory offer novel theoretical and empirical insights into social processes or is it merely a repackaging of sociology’s central tenets? This question motivates the following theoretical overview and analysis in hopes to spur further inquiry into social complexity. Complexity theor...
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doaj-aea6994e1e7241548fa5666df2a843572020-11-24T22:06:36ZengNorth Carolina Sociological AssociationSociation Today1542-63001542-63002019-05-011814051Something Old or Something New?: Complexity Theory and SociologyDaniel J. Davis0University of South Carolina UpstateDoes complexity theory offer novel theoretical and empirical insights into social processes or is it merely a repackaging of sociology’s central tenets? This question motivates the following theoretical overview and analysis in hopes to spur further inquiry into social complexity. Complexity theory posits that interaction between social agents produces emergent macro level patterns; a statement which is remarkably consistent with extant sociological theory. Following this line of inquiry, I provide a brief discussion of complexity theory, emphasizing the connection with sociological theory. I then attempt to clarify complexity theory by illustrating that it is neither a theory nor a method of research, but instead a meta-theory. In this light, complexity theory can illuminate certain underdeveloped aspects of sociological analysis, such as the importance of initial conditions and non-linear dynamics, enriching our understanding of the social phenomenon. The aim, therefore, of this paper is to spur sociological theorizing, far from equilibrium, at the edge of chaos and complexity.http://sociation.ncsociologyassoc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/davis_final_05032019.pdfSociological TheoryComplexity ScienceEmergenceTheory Development |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Daniel J. Davis |
spellingShingle |
Daniel J. Davis Something Old or Something New?: Complexity Theory and Sociology Sociation Today Sociological Theory Complexity Science Emergence Theory Development |
author_facet |
Daniel J. Davis |
author_sort |
Daniel J. Davis |
title |
Something Old or Something New?: Complexity Theory and Sociology |
title_short |
Something Old or Something New?: Complexity Theory and Sociology |
title_full |
Something Old or Something New?: Complexity Theory and Sociology |
title_fullStr |
Something Old or Something New?: Complexity Theory and Sociology |
title_full_unstemmed |
Something Old or Something New?: Complexity Theory and Sociology |
title_sort |
something old or something new?: complexity theory and sociology |
publisher |
North Carolina Sociological Association |
series |
Sociation Today |
issn |
1542-6300 1542-6300 |
publishDate |
2019-05-01 |
description |
Does complexity theory offer novel theoretical and empirical insights into social processes or is it merely a
repackaging of sociology’s central tenets? This question motivates the following theoretical overview and analysis in
hopes to spur further inquiry into social complexity. Complexity theory posits that interaction between social agents
produces emergent macro level patterns; a statement which is remarkably consistent with extant sociological theory.
Following this line of inquiry, I provide a brief discussion of complexity theory, emphasizing the connection with
sociological theory. I then attempt to clarify complexity theory by illustrating that it is neither a theory nor a method
of research, but instead a meta-theory. In this light, complexity theory can illuminate certain underdeveloped aspects
of sociological analysis, such as the importance of initial conditions and non-linear dynamics, enriching our
understanding of the social phenomenon. The aim, therefore, of this paper is to spur sociological theorizing, far from
equilibrium, at the edge of chaos and complexity. |
topic |
Sociological Theory Complexity Science Emergence Theory Development |
url |
http://sociation.ncsociologyassoc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/davis_final_05032019.pdf |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT danieljdavis somethingoldorsomethingnewcomplexitytheoryandsociology |
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