What Are Social Theories and How Do They Affect Our Lives?

social theory is an analytical framework for studying and interpreting social phenomena. Social theories provide a way to see the world and social interactions as a dynamic system of relationships and processes. They are not just an explanation of the way things are, they are a tool for understanding and changing how things should be.

Sociologists use four main social theory approaches to guide their research. Each approach offers a different perspective on the nature of society and how people relate to one another. These approaches are called theoretic traditions or schools of thought. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses.

Theoretical traditions have evolved over time, reflecting the various interests and concerns of sociologists. This is reflected in the wide range of theories that have emerged. Some of the more well known and influential approaches include Critical Theory, Conflict Theory, and Disengagement Theory.

Some social theory approaches focus on the role of power in society and seek to uncover how social structures maintain hierarchies and oppression. This is called Critical Theory and draws on works by philosophers like Karl Marx, Max Horkheimer, and Theodor Adorno.

A key goal of this approach is to identify the implicit norms that are not expressed in public speech or action and make these explicit in order to criticize and change them. This is done by constructing "reconstructive sciences" that are not a priori but empirical, fallible and based on human experience, yet raise universal, defeasible claims to an account of practical reason. This moves philosophy away from its skeptical predicament with the social sciences and brings it into a fully cooperative relationship with them.