Pregledni rad
THE CONSTRUCT OF EMERGENCE – EPISTEMOLOGICAL, THEORETICAL AND METHODOLOGICAL CHALLENGES AND PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE EXAMINATION OF THE NOTIONAL NODE OF DIVERGENT SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES
Krešimir Žažar
orcid.org/0000-0002-6133-8625
; Odsjek za sociologiju, Filozofski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu
Sažetak
The axial issue scrutinized in the article is an idea of emergence, which presumes that interaction of elements at the micro level implies the appearance of the macro outcomes. These effects form autonomous ontological realm irreducible to their constitutive elements. The denoted idea is examined from sociological point of view since society can be considered as emergent reality. Firstly, the basic definitions, distinctions of diverse types and historical transformations of the idea of emergence are provided. The pivotal part of the paper comprises the debate about diverse, even confronted sociological articulations of the thesis on the emergent character of the social world. In this sense, the idea of emergence is identified as suitable epistemological framework that enables overcoming of profound sociological dichotomies. Sawyer’s emergence paradigm is indicated as particularly promising effort in that direction. The issue of empirical examination of the emergence is disputed in the following section devoted to the computing simulation methodology. The advantages of simulations models are recognized in their heuristic potential, ascendance of explanatory power, enhancement of methodology and increasing of the level of predictability of sociology. On the other hand, there is an urgency that simulation models encompass crucial premises also of interpretative sociological tradition and avoid focus strictly on the positivistic theoretical orientations. Furthermore, a possible applicative contribution of simulation methodology in preventing disruptive emergent phenomena, such as violent conflicts, is discussed and underlined. In concluding section the urgency of inquiry of the idea of emergence in sociology is emphasized.
Ključne riječi
emergence; mechanisms; simulation models; emergence paradigm; heuristic potential of the idea of emergence; practical applicability
Hrčak ID:
169689
URI
Datum izdavanja:
1.6.2016.
Posjeta: 2.200 *