Inter-Work and Ethical Vigilance: Two Scenarios for the (Post-)Pandemic Future of Systems Thinking

For several decades, systems thinking has been a defined body of knowledge that has contributed to many areas of science. Its value has, critically, resided in (meta- or post-) paradigmatic and participative use of one or several systems approaches to help stakeholders’ structure and tackle complex problems. With renewed and (post-)pandemic interest in interdisciplinary work, this paper argues that to continue securing a future, system thinking requires a wider understanding of the dynamics and intertwining of knowledge unfolding and ethics in society. Two different but overlapping scenarios for systems thinking are proposed: (a) One based on inter-(disciplinary, para/professional, group) work and (b) another based on ethical vigilance. The first one is not so different from what has been envisaged for systems thinking in the last few years. Nevertheless, and following the ideas of the sociologist Andrew Abbott, this scenario proposes the explicit inclusion of the goal of knowledge rediscovery to promote a sense of solidarity, mutual understanding and compassion. For the second scenario, Michel Foucault’s notion of governmentality is used to problematize pandemic events and practices, and to offer possibilities for individual critical thinking and action, also leading us to consider the importance of (self-other) compassion. Features, implications, questions and examples of use are provided for each scenario.

Quantitative science studies should be framed with middle-range theories and concepts from the social sciences

This paper argues that quantitative science studies should frame their data and analyses with middle-range sociological theories and concepts. We illustrate this argument with reference to the “sociology of professions,” a middle-range theoretical framework developed by Chicago sociologist Andrew Abbott. Using this framework, we counter the claim that the use of bibliometric indicators in research assessment is pervasive in all advanced economies. Rather, our comparison between the Netherlands and Italy reveals major differences in the national design of bibliometric research assessment: The Netherlands follows a model of bibliometric professionalism, whereas Italy follows a centralized bureaucratic model that co-opts academic elites. We conclude that applying the sociology of professions framework to a broader set of countries would be worthwhile, allowing the emerging bibliometric profession to be charted in a comprehensive, and preferably quantitative, fashion. We also briefly discuss other sociological middle-range concepts that could potentially guide empirical analyses in quantitative science studies.

Temporalities and Transitions of Family History in Europe: Competing Accounts

Standard collective publications on European family history manifest large differences in their temporal structure. This article examines three examples from different countries and currents of research for the last five centuries. It discusses the question of whether, and to which degree, time theory can be applied to adjust and balance investigations of the domestic domain in the long run. For that purpose, this article uses the theoretical framework of US-American scholar Andrew Abbott. His work has provided important inputs for contemporary family research. Can we also use it for long-term investigations?

Estructura y evento en la sociología histórica de Andrew D. Abbott y en El arte de la guerra. Ensayo comparativo

La obra de Andrew Abbott está asociada al descubrimiento de al menos tres procesos estructurales, que conciernen a las profesiones, a las trayectorias laborales y a la evolución fractal de las declaraciones de las ciencias sociales. Esas estructuras se encuentran afectadas por la contingencia, por el hecho de que “el mundo es un mundo de eventos” que relativiza, construye y reconstruye dichos procesos. Para el arte de la guerra, el evento como expresión de la contingencia y el desarrollo de las teorías de manera fractal constituyen igualmente elementos centrales. Además, este arte comparte con Andrew Abbott la crítica a los defectos del pensamiento.Abstract: The work of Andrew Abbott is associated to the discovery of at least three structural processes dealing with professions, academic trajectories and the fractal evolution of social sciences declarations. These structures often result modified by contingencies, by the fact that “the world is a world of events”, which puts into perspective, build and rebuild theses processes. For the Art of the War, the event as an expression of the contingency and the fractal-like development of theories also constitute central elements. In addition, this art shares with Andrew Abbott the critic towards thinking flaws.Résumé : Le travail d’Andrew Abbott est associé à la découverte d’au moins trois processus structurels qui traitent des professions, des trajectoires académiques, et de l’évolution fractale des déclarations des sciences sociales. Ces structures se trouvent modifiées par la contingence, par le fait de que le monde est un « monde d’effets » qui relativise, construit et reconstruit ces processus. Pour l’Art de la guerre, l’événement en tant que expression de la contingence et le développement des théories de manière fractale constituent également des éléments centraux. De plus, cet art partage avec Andrew Abbot la critique vers les défauts de la pensée.

Visualizing Bring-backs

The figure plots the number of articles that have attempted to “bring” something “back in” in the social sciences by publication year and number of citations. Andrew Abbott, taking a (pessimistic) sociology of knowledge perspective, identified this tendency—beginning with Homans’s classic article “Bringing Men Back in”—as emblematic of the tendency to rediscover old ideas in sociology. The plot shows that “bring-backs” did not become a common yearly occurrence until the mid to late 1990s but are now relatively frequent. The most successful bring-backs have been relatively abstract things such as the “state” and “society” and more recently, “culture,” “knowledge,” and “values.”