On the Nature of a Social Order

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the nature of a social order. The chapter discusses three categories: control, influence, and normative regulation. Control is a matter of what an agent does in relation to another agent; influence a matter of what an agent can do in relation to another; and normative regulation a matter of what an agent shall or may do in relation to another. Control and influence may be “combined”. Control may be defined in relation to an agent with respect to his influence positions and, conversely, his influence in relation to an agent with respect to his control positions. Studies shows that work in these areas are important for the understanding of the foundations of social science. There is a close structural affinity between act positions and normative positions.