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Sociology of the Invisible Hand

Adriana Mica editor Rafał Wiśniewski editor Katarzyna M Wyrzykowska editor Iwona Zielińska editor

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Peter Lang AG

Published:11th Jul '18

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

Sociology of the Invisible Hand cover

This book illustrates the applicability of the seminal and controversial metaphor of the «invisible hand» in modern sociological theory. It shows that sociologists have long been part of a field mainly associated with economists and political philosophers. Though unlike the framing that builds directly on Adam Smith, sociological theory focuses on undesirable and perverse outcomes. Furthermore, the sociological angle favors the explanation of invisible hand-like mechanisms as contingent upon social structures and broader processes. Thus, it goes beyond its classical formulation in terms of interdependence, interaction and aggregation of individual actions.

This book gathers contributions of remarkable authors who are linked directly either with the invisible hand metaphor, with the spontaneous order phenomenon or with the unintended consequences issue and aims to describe the traditional and contemporary applicability of the sociological framing of the invisible hand for social sciences.

ISBN: 9783631672327

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: 621g

430 pages

New edition