ABSTRACT

The territory invaded by A. Touraine's actionalism is evidently that of Sartre's existentialised marxism; and, beyond expert circles, its right to occupy this ground not as a philosophy but as a sociology was broadly conceded. The theory of the conscience ouvriere formed part of the 'sociology of action'. The concept of la conscience ouvriere — should be understood primarily as an analytical principle within actionalist sociology for giving meaning to the attitudes expressed by subjects towards their condition as workers, as producers. Combined with personal magne certain idea of sociology no doubt answered an important need in wide sections of the educated middle class public for authoritative orientation at a time of social flux. Though Sociologie de l'action announced itself as a methodological essay it in fact contained lengthy allusions to contemporary industrialism. Industrial societies could be characterised as those in which work manifests ever more prominently the dialectics of creation and control.