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The question of agency is central to several important debates in contemporary sociology. Unfortunately, discussions of agency can become embroiled with issues related to free will and determinism. George Herbert Mead developed an approach to agency that avoids unsolvable metaphysical problems about free will and determinism. This paper presents Mead's work relevant to agency, revealing both Mead's method and the details of his theory. First, it shows how Mead followed the basic methods of behavioristic psychology, which require that abstract philosophical and psychological concepts are defined in terms of the actual behaviors involved. A strict focus on behavior helps in avoiding metaphysical impasses when dealing with such complex issues as decision making and choice. Second, the paper presents an overview of Mead's specific theories about awareness, meaning, decision making, choice, creativity, and social responsibility, showing how he analyzed these concepts in terms of the central nervous system, language, inner conversation, taking the role of others, reflective intelligence, the ‘I’ and the ‘me,’ and related concepts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper critically examines sociological treatments of the concept of charisma. It demonstrates that the existence of diverse and conflicting views on charisma is due partly to sociologists' selection accentuations of the different types of charisma (magical, prophetic, and routinized) in Weber's writings. Reconsidering charisma as an expression of alienation, the paper also suggests a synthetic approach that may alleviate the conceptual anarchy surrounding it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on achievements of sociologist Roy Francis. During a career that has spanned more than 40 years, Roy Francis has made substantial contributions to sociological teaching and research. Building on his experiences as a student, he holds dear the ideals of a liberal education and continues to search for new ways of transmitting those ideals in the face of changing social patterns. As prolific writer, Francis' books and papers often examine the proper relations between theory and research and explore the potential of symbolic interactionism as an epistemological framework. He has been active in sociology's professional affairs, especially in promoting visual sociology as a teaching and learning medium. Roy began to proselytize nationally for the establishment of several courses, and in so doing, became one of the pioneers of the field of visual sociology. His roles as a student, professor, administrator, and president of the Midwest Sociological Society round out a career that has encompassed all facets of modern scholarship.

Social constructionists have produced a rich theoretical and empirical literature on the rise and fall of public issues. By focusing exclusively on claims-making behavior in a micro interactive context, social constructionists, in the tradition of Spector and Kitsuse, generally have rejected efforts to link claims-making to antecedent variables. Thus they often treat claims-making participants as activities, devoid of motives, meanings, and intentions. In this paper, ideology and interest are offered as antecedent variables to claims-making and as the critical factors which determine why some claims are more marketable than others. Interest and ideology also are examined as both subjective and structural/cultural phenomena. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parsons' theory of economy and society has reemerged as an important reference point in the development of social theory. This paper focuses on Parsons' contribution to a possible theoretical rapproachment between economic and social theory. The issue addressed is the indifference of economists to the project for theorctical reunification announced in the Marshall Lectures. The author argues that Parsons' understanding of economic theory was seriously incomplete, while his assumption of a shared commitment between the two disciplines to develop a general synthetic theory was highly dubious. At the same time, Parsons' attempt at rapproachment remains relevant in a contemporary situation where many social scientists propose an economistic annexation of sociology by rational choice theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper seeks to demonstrate the inherently practical intent of the Marshall Lectures. It argues that Parsons' views on the relationship between sociology and economics were presupposed by his broader vision of how the social sciences could contribute to the successful functioning of the social order. This conception of a new division of labor in the social sciences arose from Parsons' concern with the shortcomings of both utilitarian economics and Marxism. Evidence from Parsons' writings of the 1930s and 1940s is provided in support of these claims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we address the question of the existing and potential role of sociologists in the nuclear debate by first sketching some of the major nuclear issues, second by guaging the extent of professional attention which sociology has focused on nuclear issues, and third by describing a sampling of what sociologists have written on nuclear issues. Our focus is on the professional sociological literature. In addition to it there is a vast peace literature which ranges from academic studies to newsletters and propaganda pieces. Sociologists may contribute heavily to the peace literature and be active in the peace or related campaigns, but we exclude these activities from our study. We view them as actions which sociologists do in their roles of concerned citizens. Our focus here is on the professional sociological literature and our comments pertain solely to it. We select thirteen journals to represent various aspects of this literature and review all issues from 1945 to the present to guage the coverage of nuclear issues in the sociological literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper utilizes the case of the Zaddik in the Hasidic movement to discuss routinization in terms of the movement's doctrinal basis and thus extends Max Weber's generalizations about charisma. The Zaddik was a highly personal type of leader whose authority is based on his ability to make contact with the feminine element of God, which is immanent but hidden in the world, and is demonstrated by his ability to gather disciples. The Lurianic Kabbala's myth of creation provides a way of recognizing similarities and organizing differences among Hasidim. The problems of the leaders on how to read their message and authority into the past to forge a sense of history for their followers, and how to read that same message into the future to provide the promise of salvation, have been highlighted. In the history of Judaism, there is a fairly constant tension between the ethical and exemplary dimensions of action. This tension expresses itself as a tension between two alternative conceptions of God as a transcendent lawgiver and God as a spirit immanent in all creation. The nature of the Zaddik's role and then the cultural legitimation for it have been examined.

This paper attempts to provide an overview of the questions Max Weber was attempting to answer in his study of ancient Israel and to articulate his own theses about the nature of ancient Israelite society. It also aims to assess the cogency of the ideal type "prophet" described in two of Weber's works. The author notes that in studying ancient Israel, Weber was, at once and at the same time, studying ancient literature and the society that produced it. Weber sought to understand the character of one specific religion that has continued for over a 2000 year period through this writing, wherein he expressed his feelings of the existence of Judaism as a problem. He was concerned to ask a more universal question, one that encompassed the major cultures of both Orient and Occident, and also believed that anyone who was an heir to the traditions of the modern European civilization would approach problems of universal history with a set of questions that would appear both inevitable and legitimate. One leitmotif running throughout Weber's chapters on ancient Israel is the emphasis on change.

Although it is a prominent feature of modern experience, driving has received little attention from sociologists. Yet social interaction between motorists is an integral part of the traffic situation. This paper explores its bases and some of its typical dynamics. Other sociologically relevant aspects of driving are delineated and the issue of how driving may influence modern culture is addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents authors personal thoughts on the pursuit of sociological problems. The author intends to retrace his steps along one path of his intellectual career--the path that links two books, titled, "Social Change in the Industrial Revolution," and "Theory of Collective Behavior," and a number of recent articles and papers on sociological theory and psychological theory. The main emphasis in the article was on the need for a determinate synthesis of the several classes of variables that are essential for the explanation of collective behavior such as cultural, social, psychological, ecological and other variables. In attempting to sort out the major influences on his choice of sociological problems, he resorts to a device that he find congenial and helpful: to arrange these influences in a series extending from very general, predisposing influences which have steered his intellectual interests to the very specific, immediate influences that have determined a particular strategy of analysis in working on a sociological problem.

This issue of "Sociological Inquiry" presents a new and rather exciting feature which I believe will be of great interest to the readers of this journal. They are, for the first time, publishing the winning paper of the Alpha Kappa Delta (AKD) undergraduate paper competition. The editorial advisory board strongly recommended publishing the winning paper as "Sociological Inquiry" is, after all, the official journal of AKD, the international sociology honorary society. They also know that many of their subscribers are students. The editor hope that they enjoy this rather unique look at an aspect of human society that has been virtually untouched by sociologists. As they read this article, he hope also that they come away with a sense of satisfaction with knowing that the next generation of sociologists is being well trained in their discipline. Recognizing that much of this behavior has little to do with intended suicide, and cannot necessarily be linked to other pathologies, Sarah Hodgson interviews individuals who engage in this type of self mutilation through online chat rooms. Her analysis reveals several layers of learning that take place, as well as numerous mechanisms that are employed to maintain their credibility in a society that otherwise stigmatizes such behavior.

This article focuses on the need for sociologists to understand governmental process relevant to the conduct of researches in social science. The author of this paper opposes the premise that sociologists have a history of ethical violations. However, the author still encourages sociologists to comprehend the functions of the government for the reason that researchers can wreak harm in their handling of data. It is also a must for sociologists to have an ethical foundation in their conduct of fieldwork for social research.