Abstract
Today’s field of sociological theory is rather complicated, and more than slightly confusing. This is largely because from its very beginning theoretical thinking in sociology arose from different starting points.
As a result, certain theoretical dilemmas recur, including in contemporary efforts at sociological theory. One of these dilemmas is a dilemma associated with two contrasting theoretical positions that can be termed individualism (or atomists) and holism (collectivists).
For individualism (rational choice theory, phenomenological sociology, etc.) the starting point of theoretical thinking is the human individual. For holism (structuralism, functionalism, systemic theory) it is social reality (or society) as a whole.
How we can overcome the dualism of these two theoretical positions I aim to show using an approach loosely inspired by Émile Durkheim and his concept of ‘homo duplex’ (1914).