The Creativity of Action

Based on Joas's study of George Herbert Mead, this work reevaluates the contribution of American pragmatism and European philosophical anthropology to theories of action in the social sciences. The author also attempts to establish direct ties between Mead's work and German philosophical anthropology. Joas argues for adding a third model of action to the two predominent models of rational and normative action - one which emphasizes the creative character of human action. This model encompasses the other two, allowing for a more comprehensive theory of action. Joas elaborates some implications of his model for theories of social movements and social change, and for the status of action theory in sociology in the face of competition from theories advanced by Luhmann and Habermas. The problem of action is of crucial importance in both sociology and philosophy, and this book aims to add impetus to current debate.