The Creativity of Action

Hans Joas is one of the foremost social theorists in Germany today. Based on Joas’s celebrated study of George Herbert Mead, this work reevaluates the contribution of American pragmatism and European philosophical anthropology to theories of action in the social sciences. Joas also establishes direct ties between Mead’s work and approaches drawn from German traditions of philosophical anthropology. Joas argues for adding a third model of action to the two predominant models of rational and normative action—one that emphasizes the creative character of human action. This model encompasses the other two, allowing for a more comprehensive theory of action. Joas elaborates some implications of his model for theories of social movements and social change and for the status of action theory in sociology in the face of competition from theories advanced by Luhmann and Habermas. The problem of action is of crucial importance in both sociology and philosophy, and this book—already widely debated in Germany—will add fresh impetus to the lively discussions current in the English-speaking world. This work outlines the fundamentals of a new theory of action, drawing on philosophical pragmatism. It is based upon the author's study of G.H. Mead, but also establishes direct ties between Mead's work and approaches drawn from German traditions of philosophical anthropology. aeo Joas is one of Germanya s leading social theorists today. aeo This book is a major study and re--evaluation of the theories of action. aeo As well as surveying past and current debates, it also offers a new theory of the creative character of human activity. Preface Introduction 1. The Emergence of the Theory of Action 2. Metaphors of Creativity 3. Situation—Corporeality—Sociality: The Fundamentals of a Theory of the Creativity of Action 4. Creative Democracy Notes Bibliography Index of Names Index of Subjects Hans Joas ; Translated By Jeremy Gaines And Paul Keast. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [296]-317) And Indexes.