{"id":20085,"date":"2018-11-10T16:08:26","date_gmt":"2018-11-11T00:08:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dminlgp\/?p=20085"},"modified":"2020-01-02T13:06:38","modified_gmt":"2020-01-02T21:06:38","slug":"a-means-not-an-end","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/a-means-not-an-end\/","title":{"rendered":"A Means, Not An End"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Theory of Everything<\/h2>\n<p>Is there a Social TOE (Theory of everything)? Could there possibly be an ultimate social theory that encompasses a theoretical single, comprehensive, lucid theoretical framework of social phenomena which conjoins together all social and cultural facets of society?<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"the answer to life, universe and everything\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/aboZctrHfK8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Thus, the solution may be one of the famous lines in the <strong><em>Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy<\/em><\/strong>, \u201cthe answer to the Great Question\u2026 of life, the universe and everything is 42,\u2019 said Deep Thought, with infinite majesty and calm.\u201d<a href=\"#_ftn1\" name=\"_ftnref1\">[1]<\/a> Seems like an unusual response, right?<\/p>\n<p>In all genuineness, in examining the vast and in-depth social theories from schools of thoughts including but not limited to Chicago School of Sociology, Marxism, Feminist Theory, Social Action Theory, Postmodernity, the complexity of theories tends to leave on in a status of awe and bewilderment. As in the moments after Deep Thought so definitively answered, the high dimensional beings stood in disbelief and bewilderment. As a researcher exploring the proper social theory to apply to a socially complex issue for a dissertation, finding a social theory which is inclusive has also provided a place of bewilderment. \u00a0Hence, a resolution of discovering a concise and adequate social theory to employ as an academic researcher seems unattainable.<\/p>\n<h2>An exploration into Contemporary Social Theory<\/h2>\n<p>Even though social theories are beneficial contributors to different studies and perspective of social phenomena, it presents a conundrum for choosing the appropriate social theory to address all today\u2019s societal issue. Issues such as racism, immigration issues, gender equality, modern-day slavery, human rights, socio-economic deprivation are some of the significant components facing our society. Elliott presents an abundance of information in his book Contemporary Social Theory: An Introduction, of a selected pool of sociologists for the 18<sup>th<\/sup> century to the present; the majority of which are from the United Kingdom. However, it is only a brief overview of contemporary world sociology based on the views from their societal narratives.<\/p>\n<p>According to Elliot\u2019s book, five major themes set a precedent from the classical social theories. However, the contemporary sociologists remain interconnected with those of the former school of thought. The theme includes 1) the relation between the individual and society, or between human action and social structure; 2) the degree of consensus or conflict in modern societies; 3) change or social transformation (globalization); 4) gender issues; and 5) social and emotional, between our public and private worlds. <a href=\"#_ftn2\" name=\"_ftnref2\">[2]<\/a> These themes seem perfect in address all of the above problems of our society. However, while evaluating the social theories it is apparent there are notable hypotheses, yet they all include extreme fallacies.<\/p>\n<h2>Targeted Social Theory Collection<\/h2>\n<p>If a social theory must be chosen for the sake of this blog, the gravitational pull would lend its direction to an amalgamate of theories which will hopefully help to address the societal issues for dissertation research purposes. This amalgamate of theories we respectfully entitle, the \u201c42 Effect Theory\u201d. It will encompass the theories of Max Weber\u2019s \u201cProtestant Ethic\/Social Action Theory, Pierre Bourdieu\u2019s \u201ccultural deprivation theory, Anthony Gidden\u2019s \u201cDuality of Structure Theory,\u201d theory from \u201cProphet of Postmodernity,\u201d Zygmunt Bauman, and well as an additional sample of American sociologists for a balanced approach to view diverse culture, socio-economic elements, societal norms, etc. Since the research is geared to addresses social advocacy and the church, most of the social theories listed above lend valuable knowledge while eliminating some variables of fallacy.<\/p>\n<h2>Divide and Conquer<\/h2>\n<p>A collection of theories have been selected for the experimental \u201c42 Effect Theory.\u201d The next step is to determine the essential components <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dminlgp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shutterstock_297702716.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-20146 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dminlgp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shutterstock_297702716-300x193.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"323\" height=\"208\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shutterstock_297702716-300x193.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shutterstock_297702716-768x495.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shutterstock_297702716-150x97.jpg 150w, https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shutterstock_297702716.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 323px) 100vw, 323px\" \/><\/a>each one of the theories for the desired outcome. This next step is the most crucial component of the research process since the function of sociology, as of every science, is to reveal that which is hidden.<a href=\"#_ftn3\" name=\"_ftnref3\">[3]<\/a> The objective is to uncover the hidden impediments not previously concentrated on by past researchers that could lead to sustainable change and transformation in our current society and the evangelical community.<\/p>\n<p>The conclusion is not definite that the amalgamate\u00a0of social theories will prove to be effective, but this is a good start. Besides, any solution is better than just 42.<\/p>\n<p>Remember, social theories are means to a resolution and not the end itself. Choose them wisely!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref1\" name=\"_ftn1\">[1]<\/a> Douglas Adams, \u201c42 Quotes,\u201d Good Reads, accessed November 8, 2018,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodreads.com\/quotes\/tag\/42\">https:\/\/www.goodreads.com\/quotes\/tag\/42<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref2\" name=\"_ftn2\">[2]<\/a> Anthony Elliott,\u00a0<em>Contemporary Social Theory<\/em>\u00a0(publication place: Routledge, 2014), Loc. 657-725.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref3\" name=\"_ftn3\">[3]<\/a> Pierre Bourdieu, \u201cOn Television: In Front of the Camera and Behind the Scenes,\u201d The New York Times on the Web, accessed November 8, 2018, http:\/\/movies2.nytimes.com\/books\/first\/b\/bourdieu-television.html.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Theory of Everything Is there a Social TOE (Theory of everything)? Could there possibly be an ultimate social theory that encompasses a theoretical single, comprehensive, lucid theoretical framework of social phenomena which conjoins together all social and cultural facets of society? Thus, the solution may be one of the famous lines in the Hitchhikers Guide [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":123,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[1731],"class_list":["post-20085","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-elliot-lgp9-mimiharvey-maderevolution","cohort-lgp9"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20085","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/123"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20085"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20085\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25339,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20085\/revisions\/25339"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20085"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20085"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20085"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}