This book applies the general theory of critical rationalism in order to develop a new sociology of the open society, in general, and a new analysis of the transition from a closed society to an open society in particular. It presents a criticism of Karl Popper’s analysis of human action for opening up a closed society, followed by a critical study of the mainstream sociology to show how justificational models of knowledge and rational action have prevented sociology from addressing the contribution of human action to social change.
This book provides new sociologies of closed and open societies. It argues that in the closed society "a low level" of critical rationality is activated by people to define the meaning of the good life and social institutions of law, polity and economy. Masoud Mohammadi Alamuti proposes five mechanisms of opening up closed society through the model of social change, inspired by the philosophy of critical rationalism.
This volume is "the first systematic attempt" to apply the philosophy of critical rationalism in order to present a "normative sociology of the open society". It will be of interest to postgraduate researchers and professional readers in philosophy, sociology, moral science, law, politics and economics. In addition, this book would benefit research centres, policymakers and civil society activists interested in the ideas of critical rationalism and the open society.
Author(s): Masoud Mohammadi Alamuti
Series: Routledge Studies in Social and Political Thought, 12
Publisher: Routledge
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 188
City: London
Cover
Half Title
Series
Title
Copyright
Dedication
Contents
Acknowledgements
Introduction
1 Karl Popper: From Critical Rationalism to the Idea of an Open Society
Introduction
Section I: An Overview of Popper’s Critical Rationalism
Section II: The Intellectual Roots of the Closed Society and Popper’s Idea of the Open Society
Section III: Justificationism, “Irrational Faith in Reason” and the Idea of an Open Society
Section IV: A Sociological Critique of Popper’s Idea of the Open Society
2 From the Closed to the Open Society: A Critique of Popper’s Analysis
Introduction
Section I: Epistemology, Critical Rationalism and the Theory of Action in Modern Sociology
Section II: Popper’s Model of Action: Situational Analysis and the Concept of Human Nature
Section III: A Critique of Popper’s Analysis of the Transition From the Closed to the Open Society
3 Towards a Micro-Foundation for the Sociology of the Open Society
Introduction
Section I: The Critical Rationalist Theory of Human Action: A Brief Review
Section II: From Human Action to Social Order: A Critical Rationalist Perspective
Section III: The Three Stages of Progress in Critical Rationality
Section IV: The Growth of Critical Reason and the Stages of Moral Consciousness
Section V: The Micro-Foundations of the Sociology of the Open Society: A Summary
4 The Open Society: A Sociological Ideal Type
Introduction
Section I: The Critical Rationalist Action Model and the Problem of an “Open Social Order”
Section II: Towards a Sociological Ideal Type of the Open Society
5 The Formation of an Open Society: A Sociological Theory
Introduction
Section I: The Micro-Foundation for the Sociology of the Open Society
Section II: The Open Society Formation: A Metaphysical Analysis
Section III: The Moral Mechanism of an Open Society Formation
Section IV: The Open Society Formation: A Legal Analysis
Section V: The Political Mechanism of the Open Society Formation
Section VI: The Open Society Formation: An Economic Analysis
Section VII: The Rise of an Open Society: A Macro-Sociological Analysis
6 The Formation of a Closed Society: A Sociological Theory
Introduction
Section I: The Critical Rationalist Model of Action and the Sociology of the Closed Society
Section II: Justificationism and the Epistemology of the Closed Society: A New Ideal Type of the Closed Society
Section III: The Five Mechanisms of the Closed Society Formation
7 From the Closed to the Open Society: A Sociological Analysis
Introduction
Section I: A Micro-Foundation for Understanding of the Transition From the Closed to the Open Society
Section II: From the Closed to the Open Society: A Cultural Change
Section III: From the Closed to the Open Society: A Governmental Change
Section IV: From the Closed to the Open society: An Economic Change
Section V: From the Closed to the Open Society: A Macro-Sociological Analysis
Section VI: From the Closed to the Open Society: The Sociological Analysis Versus Popper’s Analysis
Section VII: A Substantial Difference Between a “Liberal” and an “Open” Society
8 The Sociology of the Open Society: A Summary
Section I: A Reinvention of Critical Rationalism for the Sociology of the Open Society
Section II: From the Closed to the Open Society: A Sociological Analysis
Index
