Functional explanation: A Debate z Debate on functional explanation in the social sciences y Assumption of institutional resilience and persistence in social system: Such a qualification or reservation can release social scientists of the burden ofproof oftracing the history of actual selection and evolution of the resilience of a social institution. Instead social scientists can simply base on a"virtual selection"assumption and focus on the accounting for the persistence of a given phenomenon
Functional explanation: A Debate z Debate on functional explanation in the social sciences y Assumption of institutional resilience and persistence in social system: … Such a qualification or reservation can release social scientists of the burden of proof of tracing the history of actual selection and evolution of the resilience of a social institution. Instead social scientists can simply base on a "virtual selection" assumption and focus on the accounting for the persistence of a given phenomenon
Functional explanation: A Debate z Debate on functional explanation in the social sciences y Another resolution to the debate is offered by G. A. Cohen, an Analytical Marxist. In g.a. Cohen's two functional explanations in historical materialism, he offers more or less a selection theory through class struggle"as the consequence law
Functional explanation: A Debate z Debate on functional explanation in the social sciences y Another resolution to the debate is offered by G.A. Cohen, an Analytical Marxist. In G.A. Cohen's two functional explanations in historical materialism, he offers more or less "a selection theory through class struggle" as the consequence law.)
THE CURRENCY OF EGALITARIAN JUSTICE, AND OTHER ESSAYS IN POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY KARL MARX'S Theoryof History DEfence xpanded Edition GA COHEN G.A. COHEN lanc Deutch ==1941-2000
1941-2009
Functional explanation: A Debate z Debate on functional explanation in the social sciences y In G.A. Cohen's x In the functionalexplanation of the relationship between force o production and relation ofproduction (class relation) Cohen suggests Classes are permanently poised against one another, and that class tends to prevail whose rule would best meet the demands of production. But how does the fact thatproduction wouldprosper under a certain class ensure its dominance? part of the answer is that there is a general stake in stable and striving production, so that the class bestplaced to deliver it attracts allies from other strata in society Prospective ruling classes are often able to raise support among the classes subjected to the ruling class they would displace contrariwise classes unsuited to the task of governing society tend to lack the confidence political hegemony requires, and if they do seizepower, they tend not to hold it for long (Cohen, 1978, 292)
Functional explanation: A Debate z Debate on functional explanation in the social sciences y In G.A. Cohen's … x In the functional explanation of the relationship between force of production and relation of production (class relation) Cohen suggests "Classes are permanently poised against one another, and that class tends to prevail whose rule would best meet the demands of production. But how does the fact that production would prosper under a certain class ensure its dominance? Part of the answer is that there is a general stake in stable and striving production, so that the class best placed to deliver it attracts allies from other strata in society. Prospective ruling classes are often able to raise support among the classessubjected to the ruling class they would displace. Contrariwise, classes unsuited to the task of governing society tend to lack the confidence political hegemony requires, and if they do seize power, they tend not to hold it for long." (Cohen, 1978, 292)
Functional explanation: A Debate z Debate on functional explanation in the social sciences y In g.A. Cohen's x In the functionalexplanation of the relationship between infrastructure and superstructure, Cohen once again suggests x All classes are receptive to whatever ideas are likely to benefit them, and ruling classes are well placed to propagate ideologies particular congenial to themselves. But before an ideology is received or broadcastit has to be formed. And on that point there are traces in Marx ofa Darwinian mechanism, a notion that thought-systems are produced in comparative independence fromsocial constraint, but persist and gain social life for ideologicalservice.. There is a kind of ' ideological pool'which yields elements in different configurations as social requirements change."(Cohen, 1978, P. 291)
Functional explanation: A Debate z Debate on functional explanation in the social sciences y In G.A. Cohen's … x In the functional explanation of the relationship between infrastructure and superstructure, Cohen once again suggests… x "All classes are receptive to whatever ideas are likely to benefit them, and ruling classes are well placed to propagate ideologies particular congenial to themselves. But before an ideology is received or broadcast it has to be formed. And on that point there are traces in Marx of a Darwinian mechanism, a notion that thought-systems are produced in comparative independence from social constraint, but persist and gain social life for ideological service. …There is a kind of 'ideological pool' which yields elements in different configurations as social requirements change." (Cohen, 1978, p.291)