Work

Constituted Groups

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The paper presents a novel approach to the study of organized groups. It introduces a simple and well-defined—though idealized—model designed to highlight and facilitate discussion of the central features of such groups. On the basis of this model, labelled constituted groups , several important notions and problems are reopened and reassessed, including the indispensability of the group level in social explanations, the supervenience of group outcomes on individual inputs, the notions of group agency and rationality, and the attribution of responsibility for group actions. Despite the familiarity of these issues, the model’s distinctive contribution lies in its ability to integrate a wide range of non-reductive claims within a conceptually simple and fundamentally individualistic framework.

Source: Philosophia

DOI: 10.1007/s11406-026-01005-0

Author: Mieszko Tałasiewicz

Institution: University of Warsaw

Language: English

Topic: Critical Realism in Sociology

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,190