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Making Time for Change

On Temporal Conceptualizations within (Critical Realist) Approaches to the Relationship between Structure and Agency

University of Birmingham

Change is central to critical realism yet there has been little theoretical explication on the temporal dimension. It is shown that this oversight results in Archer's morphogenetic approach employing an ontological dualism of cyclical and linear temporalities similar to that contained within Giddens’ structuration theory. Consequently, neither Archer nor Giddens is able to explain change and the transition between different epochs in a persuasive manner. In order to minimize these problems, Adam's concept of circadiantime is adopted.This allows for a diachronic analysis that synchronically incorporates both continuity and change. Accordingly, it is able to transcend the temporal dualism of repetition and transformation.This temporal conceptualization is then incorporated within a critical realist framework. It is suggested that employing a double helix analogy allows for the integration of the notion of a stratified social ontology with a non-dichotomous temporal conceptualization.

Key Words: Adam • Archer • change • critical realism • Giddens • time

Sociology, Vol. 40, No. 1, 143-161 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/0038038506058430


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