Sociology as a scientific discipline: the post-positivist conception of J. Alexander and P. Kolomi

Abstract

This paper presents an explanation of the post-positivist conception of sociological science. J. Alexander and P. Colomi implicitly formulated the elements of this conception in a number of their publications. They interpreted sociology as a number of competing theoretical traditions. These traditions consist of two genres: generalized discourse and their contextual research programs. The development of sociology occurs as a result of the competition of theoretical traditions. The existence of these traditions depends on their adaptation and development. Theoretical traditions develop as a result of elaboration, revision, reconstruction and expropriation. The competition of theoretical traditions is complicated by social aberrations in the professional scientific community. The productivity of this competition can provide sociological metatheorizing.