Donald N. Levine

Simmel and Parsons Reconsidered

Simmel and Parsons both formulated distinctive conceptions of sociology before executing their original sociological studies. These conceptions differed with regard to methods and to principles. Their divergences led Parsons to downplay Simmels work, such that the relationship between Parsonian action theory and Simmelian sociology remains problematic to this day. A major divergence concerns the emphasis by Simmel on forms of interaction and the emphasis by Parsons on the substantive contents of action. This divergence remains even after one clarifies their respective presuppostions by differentiating variables that they confound. Both approache remain viable, particularly if they incorporate certain criticisms with which each confronts the other.