Journal article
Conceptions of Value-Relevance and the Theory of Action
Sociological inquiry, v 51(3-4), pp 371-408
01 Jan 1981
Abstract
Inquiries by Max Weber & Talcott Parsons into the relation between value-freedom & value-relevance as elements in the methodology of the social sciences are renewed. The distinction between judgments relating to values & those relating to facts or logic is crucial to this exploration. It is questionable, however, whether value-relevance necessarily is a relativistic element in a body of knowledge. The factor of value-relevance is examined through two applications of the four-function paradigm. In the first, four fundamental elements of the value-relevance of social scientific knowledge are identified. In the second, four levels in the cultural generalization of the value-relevance of theoretical knowledge are distinguished: experimental, pragmatic, ideological, & philosophical. At the philosophical level, associated with the pattern-maintenance function, value-relevance may be framed in transcendental terms that can impart universality to the substantive significance of knowledge. The means by which Wilhelm Dilthey & Georg Simmel gave value-relevance to their theoretical schemes offer an illustration of this proposal. 1 Figure. Modified HA.
Metrics
Details
- Title
- Conceptions of Value-Relevance and the Theory of Action
- Creators
- Victor Lidz
- Publication Details
- Sociological inquiry, v 51(3-4), pp 371-408
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Psychiatry; [Retired Faculty]
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:A1981NE18200013
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-84982730376
- Other Identifier
- 991021895795304721
InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Web of Science research areas
- Sociology