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Related Experiment Videos

The authority of complexity.

N Stehr1, R Grundmann

  • 1Hanse-Center for Advanced Study, University of British Columbia.

The British Journal of Sociology
|July 7, 2001
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Social science complexity is a long-held idea, but this paper questions its relevance today. Practical social scientific knowledge focuses on actionable elements, not complete reality representation.

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Area of Science:

  • Sociology
  • Social Sciences

Background:

  • The concept of social phenomena complexity is a long-standing tradition in sociology.
  • Classical theorists like Simmel and Durkheim highlighted how complexity hinders social scientific knowledge development and application.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the origins, basis, and consequences of the complexity assertion in sociology.
  • To evaluate the continued relevance of the complexity assertion for modern social scientific knowledge production and utilization.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of classical sociological thought on complexity.
  • Case study analysis using John Maynard Keynes' economic theory and its applications.
  • Conceptual analysis of social scientific knowledge practicality.

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Main Results:

  • The traditional assertion of social complexity may not be essential for contemporary social science.
  • John Maynard Keynes' economic theory illustrates how practical application can be achieved without complete representation of reality.
  • The value of social scientific knowledge is linked to its ability to identify and influence actionable aspects of social situations.

Conclusions:

  • The practicality of social scientific knowledge is not contingent on a complete depiction of social reality.
  • Optimizing the practical value of social scientific knowledge requires focusing on alterable and actionable elements within social contexts.