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Talcott Parsons
(1902 - 1979)
American sociologist.
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Science Quotes by Talcott Parsons (3 quotes)
A scientifically unimportant discovery is one which, however true and however interesting for other reasons, has no consequences for a system of theory with which scientists in that field are concerned.
— Talcott Parsons
The Structure of Social Action (1937), Vol. 1, 7.
Science is intimately integrated with the whole social structure and cultural tradition. They mutually support one other—only in certain types of society can science flourish, and conversely without a continuous and healthy development and application of science such a society cannot function properly.
— Talcott Parsons
The Social System (1951, 1977), Chap. 8, 111. As a functionalist, Parsons argued that social practices had to be studied in terms of their function in maintaining society.
Sociology should... be thought of as a science of action—of the ultimate common value element in its relations to the other elements of action.
— Talcott Parsons
The Structure of Social Action (1937), Vol. 1, 440.
In science it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion.
(1987) -- 
