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    • Social Thought and Research, Volume 23, Number 1&2 (2000)
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    • Sociology
    • Social Thought and Research
    • Social Thought and Research, Volume 23, Number 1&2 (2000)
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    Alvin W. Gouldner and the Tragic Vision in Sociology

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    Issue Date
    2000-04-01
    Author
    Chriss, James J.
    Publisher
    Department of Sociology, University of Kansas
    Type
    Article
    Rights
    Copyright (c) Social Thought and Research. For rights questions please contact Editor, Department of Sociology, Social Thought and Research, Fraser Hall, 1415 Jayhawk Blvd, Lawrence, KS 66045.
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    Abstract
    Alvin Gouldner's life and work is considered within the framework of his own attempt to fashion a reflexive sociology during the second half of his career. In the first half, Gouldner was a functionalist and dutifully contributed insights and theoretical innovations to the paradigm, even while remaining critical of Talcott Parsons' own version of structura/functionalism. Later; by 1962, Gouldner broke from the dominant tradition to become an outspoken critique ofestablishment sociology, in the process becoming more sympathetic to competing theories, especially Marxism. Eventualty, Marxism, too, was found to be inadequate because ofits lack of reflexivity, and Gouldner became further alienated from both traditions of sociology. Concomitantly, Gouldner was battling on personal and professional fronts in his role of social critic. He became increasingly hostile toward others for their willing compliance with prevailing cultural prescriptions, which he believed were robbing human beings of their agency, vitality, and will to power. Lacking authentic knowledge ofoneself, one could not hope to create social theories which benefited society and contributed to the liberation of the human spirit. Gouldner was a tragic hero, for although he came to an understanding of the limitations of human strivings in creating sociallY beneficial social theory, and fought valiantly to establish a program to fill this lacuna, he ultimately failed to deliver upon the promise of these insights because of his own hubris (on the personal front) and the internal paradoxes of reflexive sociology (on the professional front).
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/1808/5169
    DOI
    https://doi.org/10.17161/STR.1808.5169
    Collections
    • Social Thought and Research, Volume 23, Number 1&2 (2000) [9]
    Citation
    Social Thought and Research, Volume 23, Number 1&2 (2000), pp. 199-225 http://dx.doi.org/10.17161/STR.1808.5169

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    KU Libraries
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    785-864-8983

    KU Libraries
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    Lawrence, KS 66045
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    Contact KU ScholarWorks
    785-864-8983
    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    785-864-8983

    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    Image Credits
     

     

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