Re: individualism vs holism.

[Bruce McFarling <ecbm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Date: Wed, 24 Apr 2002 23:35:34 -0700, Lawrence Boland
<boland@xxxxxx> wrote:

>It would seem that there is a presumption that when one talks
>about methodological individualism that one must also be
>presuming a dichotomy with "holism" (evidence: the subject title
>of these e-mails). This is not the case in my book. ...

>... The latter refers to "institutional individualism". The full
>citations can be found in the bibliography of my 1982 book.

Are institutional individualism and methodological
institutionalism different terms for the same thing when
it appears in different taxonomies, or do they represent
neighboring positions that have some but not all
characteristics in common?

Just trying to work out where the position falls that:
- individual make choices within constraints, some
of them institionally determined
- individual actions and internalisation of institutional
norms are what give rise to institutional constraints
- institutions can evolve due to intervention of
sovereign authority
- instititions can evolve through a process of natural
selection

Obviously its a strain of organicist position, given
that the emergent behaviour arises from the interaction
of the individual behaviour in ways that are not entirely
under the control of the individuals involved.

Virtually,

Bruce McFarling, New Lambton, NSW
ecbm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx