The role of socio-philosophical theories in ideas about the integration and disintegration of societies (based on T. J. Bernard’s approach)

Abstract

The article is devoted to the revision of the validity of opposing the concepts of social integration as a consensus and social disintegration as a conflict. The methodological basis is the rethinking of the back-ground assumptions of influential socio-philosophical theories proposed by T. J. Bernard. It is shown that along with the understanding of social integration as order and consolidation, and disintegration as conflict and deviation, there are also other interpretations in the structure of socio-philosophical thought. In some of these interpretations, social integration characterizes ideal, not real, societies and is not related to social practice, while in others, social integration immanently includes a disintegration process.