Talcott Parsons Books

Offering a diverse set of contributions to current social contracting research, this volume illustrates how social contracts necessarily underlie and facilitate all forms of capitalist production and exchange. The editors bring together novel contributions from fields as diverse as economics, evolutionary game theory, contract law, business ethics, moral philosophy and anthropology to offer multifaceted but subtly intertwined perspectives on fundamental questions concerning human cooperation.

Exploring the intricate connections between social structure and personality, this collection of essays delves into their theoretical relationships and the necessity for distinct treatment in various contexts. Parsons argues for the importance of an interpretive synthesis, emphasizing that understanding the interdependencies between these elements is crucial for achieving a comprehensive grasp of the complexities involved.

Talcott Parsons's final significant work offers an in-depth examination of American society, showcasing his expertise as a renowned sociologist. The book presents a comprehensive analysis of social structures, cultural norms, and the dynamics that shape the American experience, making it a pivotal study for understanding contemporary social issues. Through his masterful insights, Parsons provides readers with a nuanced perspective on the complexities of American life.

Illustrating the eminence and broad range of Talcott Parsons work, each of the papers in this new collection represent a major step in his development of a coherent theoretical orientation in sociology. This new collection demonstrates the impact of economics political science anthropology psychology and history on the authors development of a coherent theoretical orientation in sociology. Indicative of the rapid change and development taking place in the social science disciplines, Sociology Theory and Modern Society is an important step towards the crystallization of theoretical thought into solidly based and relatively formalized theoretical structures.

During the years between the publication of the first of his two major works, Talcott Parsons was primarily engaged in political activity through the Office of Strategic Services in its efforts to bring about the defeat of the Third Reich and to set the stage for a democratic reconstruction of postwar Germany

Written in 1939, the manuscript represents the first systematic revision of Parsons' theory of action following the publication of The Structure of Social Action. It first presents the distinctions among cognitive, affective, and moral dimensions of action systems that later were incorporated in The Social System. It also presents Parsons' first formulations in functional theory and thus documents the start of a chain of reflections that only in the 1960s and 1970s produced the famous four function paradigm. At the time it was written, Parsons intended to publish it, as is apparent from his correspondence. He circulated it to students in his seminars in sociological theory for a decade. The text remains an accessible introduction to Parsons' intellectual world.