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Revisiting Role Theory: Roles and the Problem of the Self

Revisiting Role Theory: Roles and the Problem of the Self This paper looks at some of the major texts in the history of role theory. Thequestion that is asked is whether any of these works have been able to theorizethe self adequately. It is suggested that neither Parsons nor Merton has anyplace for the self in their respective theories. While Goffman does make a spacefor the self, it is only a negative space. Even ethnomethodological theorycannot imagine a role player capable of self-expression. It is argued that asolution to the problem of how to conceive of self and role can be developedfrom some ideas present in the work of the philosopher Lawrence Blum. Theconcept of self as identity that can be extracted from his work can allow socialtheory to imagine actors who are simultaneously expressing their selves andfulfilling their roles. Affinities between this idea and some key concepts intheories of both (Alan) Blum and Peter McHugh and Charles Taylor aresuggested. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Sociological Research Online SAGE

Revisiting Role Theory: Roles and the Problem of the Self

Raffel, Stanley
Sociological Research Online , Volume 4 (2): 12 – Jul 1, 1999
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12 pages

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Publisher
SAGE
Copyright
© 1999 SAGE Publications.
eISSN
1360-7804
DOI
10.5153/sro.217
Publisher site
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Abstract

This paper looks at some of the major texts in the history of role theory. Thequestion that is asked is whether any of these works have been able to theorizethe self adequately. It is suggested that neither Parsons nor Merton has anyplace for the self in their respective theories. While Goffman does make a spacefor the self, it is only a negative space. Even ethnomethodological theorycannot imagine a role player capable of self-expression. It is argued that asolution to the problem of how to conceive of self and role can be developedfrom some ideas present in the work of the philosopher Lawrence Blum. Theconcept of self as identity that can be extracted from his work can allow socialtheory to imagine actors who are simultaneously expressing their selves andfulfilling their roles. Affinities between this idea and some key concepts intheories of both (Alan) Blum and Peter McHugh and Charles Taylor aresuggested.

Journal

Sociological Research Online – SAGE

Published: Jul 1, 1999

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