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Symbolic action, art, and social order: The sociological theory of Hugh Dalziel Duncan
Author(s) -
Meisenhelder Thomas
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
journal of the history of the behavioral sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.216
H-Index - 26
eISSN - 1520-6696
pISSN - 0022-5061
DOI - 10.1002/1520-6696(197707)13:3<267::aid-jhbs2300130307>3.0.co;2-f
Subject(s) - sociological theory , sociology , symbolic interactionism , functionalism (philosophy of mind) , epistemology , structural functionalism , the symbolic , action (physics) , order (exchange) , social order , psychoanalysis , social science , philosophy , psychology , law , physics , finance , quantum mechanics , politics , political science , economics
The sociological theory of Hugh Dalziel Duncan is reviewed as a symbolic interactionist answer to the Hobbesian question. It is argued that Duncan's work provides contemporary sociology with a comprehensive symbolic theory, and that a reconsideration of this work will produce a much‐needed awareness of the importance of form and art to sociological thinking. Duncan's theoretical work is proposed as a powerful alternative to structural‐functionalism.