Action theory (sociology)

In sociology, action theory is the theory of social action presented by the American theorist Talcott Parsons.

Parsons established action theory in order to integrate the study of social order with the structural and voluntaristic aspects of macro and micro factors. In other words, it may be described as an attempt to maintain the scientific rigour of positivism, while acknowledging the necessity of the "subjective dimension" of human action incorporated in hermeneutic types of sociological theorizing. Parsons sees motives as part of our actions. Therefore, he thought that social science must consider ends, purposes and ideals when looking at actions. Parsons placed his discussion within a higher epistemological and explanatory context of systems theory and cybernetics.

Parsons' action theory is characterized by a system-theoretical approach, which integrated a meta-structural analysis with a voluntary theory. Parsons' first major work, The Structure of Social Action (1937) discussed the methodological and meta-theoretical premises for the foundation of a theory of social action. It argued the necessity for an action theory to be based on a voluntaristic foundation, claiming both a sheer positivistic-utilitarian approach as well as a sheer "idealistic" approach would not satisfy the necessary prerequisites, proposing an alternative, systemic general theory.

Parsons shared positivism's desire for a general unified theory, not only for the social science but for the whole realm of action systems (in which Parsons included the concept of "living systems"). On the other hand, he departed from them on the criteria for science, particularly on Auguste Comte`s proposition that scientists must not look for the "ultimate ends" so as to avoid unanswerable metaphysical questions. Parsons maintained that, at least for the social sciences, a meaningful theory had to include the question of "ultimate values", which by their very nature and definition, included questions of metaphysics. As such, Parsons theory stands at least with one foot in the sphere of hermeneutics and similar interpretive paradigms, which become particularly relevant when the question of "ends" need to be considered within systems of action-orientation. As such, system theorists such as Talcott Parsons can be viewed as at least partially antipositivist. It should be noted that Parsons was not a functionalist per se, but an action theorist. In fact, he never used the term functionalism to refer to his own theory. Also, his use of the term "structural functionalism", generally understood as a characterization of his theory. was used by Parsons in a special context to describe a particular stage in the methodological development of the social sciences.

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