What is Analytical Sociology? Strengths and weaknesses of a new sociological research program

Abstract

In this article, several problems of Analytical Sociology (AS) – a new school of sociological thought – are discussed. A first contention of this article is that the critique of the covering-law model (i.e. the Hempel–Oppenheim scheme) submitted by proponents of AS is problematic. The rejection of rational choice theory in AS is criticized as well. It is argued that the alleged alternative general theory applied by proponents of AS, namely DBO theory (claiming that Desires, Beliefs and Opportunities determine behavior), is equivalent to a wide version of rational choice theory. Furthermore, the focus on theories of the middle range in AS and the neglect of general theories is considered problematic. Finally, it is argued that the goals of AS can better be achieved if it is supplemented by a research program of empirical theory comparison.