Contributions of the structuralist metatheory to sociology: a possible dialogue with Turner

Abstract

The contemporary stage of the philosophy of science – as regards the notion of theory, semanticist stage – fails to influence the metatheoretical discussions made by sociologists about sociology. These discussions continue under classical and historicist perspectives, completely ignoring the semanticist perspective. The objective of this work is to bring the Structuralist Metatheory to these discussions, specifically to some ideas presented by Turner. They will be briefly presented both the conception of theory of the Structuralist Metatheory and the conceptions of the fundamental law of a theory and of contrast to, finally, proceed to the analysis of some questions raised by Turner about the sociological metatheory.

Philosophy of science; Philosophy of sociology; Metatheory; Theory; J. H. Turner