“For those interested in Parsonian theory—and there are few who can afford not to be—this will be an extremely valuable volume, representing one aspect of the process that must occur as thistheory comes increasingly to constitute a part of the mainstream of sociological thought.”—William L. Kolb, The American Journal of Sociology“The problem of arriving at a reasoned assessment of Parsons’ thought is greatly complicated by a remarkable obscurity of structure and style. Even those accustomed to abstract philosophical discussion find it a considerable chore to decide what is being said on any page, let alone also to assess its intellectual worth. . . . For this reason the present volume is especially welcome. . . . The papers, though inevitably uneven, are serious scholarly efforts. They are sympathetic in tone, often quite candid in judgment.”—Philip Selznick, American Sociological Review
