Artikel

De sociologische relevantie van het irrationele: een verdere verdieping in het door A.C. Zijderveld verdedigde evenwicht tussen rationaliteit en irrationaliteit

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Abstract

The sociological relevance of irrationality. A further exploration of the balance between rationality and irrationality as defended by A.C. Zijderveld – Sociologists have always focused on the study of rational processes, for example in the sociology of organisation. Only recently has fully attention been paid to irrationality, especially in the more creative or interpretative form of sociology. In this article we want to illustrate the situation in which man does not find the answer for his existential problems in his own institutions. We find this tendency clearly in the evolution of the function of religious institution. This has become abstract so that man is searching escape in zen, yoga,... In primitive societies the irrational tendencies (myths) offer an integrative framework for the fundamental life-problems. However, we do not want to defend a “pure” irrationality but prefer an equilibrium between the two tendencies. Arguments for which can be found in the sociological theories of A. Schutz, P. Berger and Th. Luckmann, and in the sociology of culture (as exposed by Zijderveld), all representatives of creative sociology. Our conclusion in this matter is that a complete study of society includes the study of both rational and irrational processes (cfr. Zijderveld and others).

How to Cite:

Van Humbeeck, C., (1979) “De sociologische relevantie van het irrationele: een verdere verdieping in het door A.C. Zijderveld verdedigde evenwicht tussen rationaliteit en irrationaliteit”, Tijdschrift voor Sociale Wetenschappen 24(2), 138–155. doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/tvsw.96112