Which comes first-agency or structure?
Points to Consider
In preparing your answer, read over and think about the following agency/structure dilemmas. Examining your views on these questions may help you clarify your thoughts about the discussion topic:
- Do individuals who abuse alcohol and drugs produce unemployment? (Assumption: Society is a product of individual actions) Or does unemployment produce alcoholics and drug addicts? (Assumption: Individuals are products of society)
- Do self-interested, materialistic individuals produce a capitalist economic system? (Assumption: Society is a product of individual actions) Or does capitalism produce selfish, materialistic people? (Assumption: Individuals are products of society)
- Does a well-organized, well-funded educational system produce knowledgeable, responsible citizens? (Assumption: Individuals are products of society) Or do knowledgeable, responsible citizens create well-organized, well-funded schools? (Assumption: Society is a product of individual actions)