Analytical Sociology and Social Mechanisms

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511921315

Mechanisms are very much a part of social life. For example, we can see that inequality has tended to increase over time, and that cities can become segregated. But how do such mechanisms work? Analytical sociology is an influential approach to sociology which holds that explanations of social phenomena should focus on the social mechanisms that bring them about. This book evaluates the major features of this approach, focusing on the significance of the notion of mechanism. Leading scholars seek to answer a number of questions in order to explore all the relevant dimensions of mechanism-based explanations in social sciences. How do social mechanisms link together individual actions and social environments? What is the role of multi-agent modelling in the conceptualization of mechanisms? Does the notion of mechanism solve the problem of relevance in social sciences explanations?

'Demeulenaere`s volume is the most important contribution in the discussion on social mechanisms and merits the attention of all social scientists working on the subject.'

C. Mantzavinos - Professor of Philosophy of the Social Sciences, University of Athens

'This volume of essays elegantly demonstrates that analytical sociology is - simply - good sociology.'

Peter Bearman - Cole Professor of the Social Sciences, Columbia University

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-iv
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Contents
pp v-vi
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List of figures
pp vii-vii
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List of tables
pp viii-viii
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List of contributors
pp ix-x
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Introduction
pp 1-30
- By Pierre Demeulenaere, University of Paris-Sorbonne
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Part I - Action and mechanisms
pp 31-32
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1 - Ordinary rationality: the core of analytical sociology
pp 33-49
- By Raymond Boudon, Institut de France, Académie des sciences morales et politiques
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2 - Indeterminacy of emotional mechanisms
pp 50-63
- By Jon Elster, Collège de France
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3 - A naturalistic ontology for mechanistic explanations in the social sciences
pp 64-77
- By Dan Sperber, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris
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4 - Conversation as mechanism: emergence in creative groups
pp 78-96
- By Keith Sawyer, Washington University in St Louis
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Part II - Mechanisms and causality
pp 97-98
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5 - Generative process model building
pp 99-120
- By Thomas J. Fararo, University of Pittsburgh
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6 - Singular mechanisms and Bayesian narratives
pp 121-135
- By Peter Abell, Copenhagen Business School and London School of Economics
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7 - The logic of mechanistic explanations in the social sciences
pp 136-153
- By Michael Schmid, Bundeswehr Munich University
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8 - Social mechanisms and explanatory relevance
pp 154-172
- By Petri Ylikoski, University of Tampere and University of Helsinki
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9 - Causal regularities, action and explanation
pp 173-198
- By Pierre Demeulenaere, University of Paris-Sorbonne
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Part III - Approaches to mechanisms
pp 199-200
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10 - Youth unemployment: a self-reinforcing process?
pp 201-226
- By Yvonne Åberg, Stockholm University, Peter Hedström, Nuffield College, University of Oxford
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11 - Neighborhood effects, causal mechanisms and the social structure of the city
pp 227-249
- By Robert J. Sampson, Harvard University
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12 - Social mechanisms and generative explanations: computational models with double agents
pp 250-265
- By Michael W. Macy, Cornell University., Damon Centola, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Andreas Flache, University of Groningen, Arnout van de Rijt, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Robb Willer, University of California at Berkeley
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13 - Relative deprivation in silico: agent-based models and causality in analytical sociology
pp 266-308
- By Gianluca Manzo, University of Paris Sorbonne
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Index
pp 309-320
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Analytical Sociology and Social Mechanisms

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-iv

Contents
pp v-vi

List of figures
pp vii-vii

List of tables
pp viii-viii

List of contributors
pp ix-x

Introduction
pp 1-30

Part I - Action and mechanisms
pp 31-32

1 - Ordinary rationality: the core of analytical sociology
pp 33-49

2 - Indeterminacy of emotional mechanisms
pp 50-63

3 - A naturalistic ontology for mechanistic explanations in the social sciences
pp 64-77

4 - Conversation as mechanism: emergence in creative groups
pp 78-96

Part II - Mechanisms and causality
pp 97-98

5 - Generative process model building
pp 99-120

6 - Singular mechanisms and Bayesian narratives
pp 121-135

7 - The logic of mechanistic explanations in the social sciences
pp 136-153

8 - Social mechanisms and explanatory relevance
pp 154-172

9 - Causal regularities, action and explanation
pp 173-198

Part III - Approaches to mechanisms
pp 199-200

10 - Youth unemployment: a self-reinforcing process?
pp 201-226

11 - Neighborhood effects, causal mechanisms and the social structure of the city
pp 227-249

12 - Social mechanisms and generative explanations: computational models with double agents
pp 250-265

13 - Relative deprivation in silico: agent-based models and causality in analytical sociology
pp 266-308

Index
pp 309-320

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Analytical Sociology and Social Mechanisms

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