ABSTRACT
How do we arri~e at the social forces? Friedrich Fiirstenberg uses a basic conception of field-theory to approach society, which he distinguishes from both the predominant tendencies in sociological theory. These are the 'normative ethical view' and the 'logically coherent ahistorical model'. This last is the theory of system and structure in the sense criticized by us. 1
As against this, the third method consists in 'making a dynamic analysis of present-day society within the context of a model, while renouncing any quantitative statements; it also keeps in view the forces which shape and determine the structure of society. Thus the processes are not (as Parsons, for example, proposed) incorporated a priori in a social system; instead they are viewed as its foundation often operating independently of it.'2
