Free Agents versus Structure Assignment
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Added on 2019-10-30
Free Agents versus Structure Assignment
Added on 2019-10-30
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Free agents versus StructureIntroductionIf human motivations were constant and universal, and if the opportunity structure were entirely a product of human interaction, then all variation in human action would be determined by socialstructures[ CITATION Chr14 \l 1033 ]. The relationship between a society and individual is a twistedone. Individuals are what together make the society and the society in turn is what shapes the individuals. There have been a number of debates and theories as to whether human beings are autonomous individual bodies, making one's own laws and exhibiting their own free will, or whether it is the society that gives individuals a personality, a way of life, structure. However, the fact that a society is what is actually made up of individual personalities is what brings the twist. It is like a never ending loop. Many sociologists have put forth their point of views, explaining why they think whether the case is the former or the latter. Different viewsAs mentioned above, there have been a number of debates and discussions and writers penning down their personal thoughts as to why their theories are better or more correct. Over the years, both sociologists and anthropologists have been captivated by the debate; correspondingly, they have developed a myriad of theoretical perspectives which seek to address these concerns[ CITATION Way12 \l 1033 ]. Most discussions can be divided into 3 categories, the one that show structure to be more dominant, the others that feel that it is the free will of individuals that collectively shapes the society and the third that conclude that both the agency and structure are by products of each other set in a continuous loop. Below are a few of the most famous personalities who have been pioneers in their fields and have done their fair share of research regarding this debate.Pierre Bordeaux- One of the most famous theories given by the very famous Bordeaux was that of ‘habitus’. He explains in his book called the “Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgment of Taste” the relationship between an individual and society. He compares it almost to a set up where an individual is an agent who is set up in a field where the society acts as what would
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