The Persistence of the Particular

Definitions of human beings as "symbolic animals" emphasize our capacity to form theories and general laws that can be applied to common social experience. This is balanced by an equally strong will to define events and conditions that are particular to specific times, places, and individuals. In The Persistence of Particular Wrong argues that the scientific standard of universal laws and propositions has only limited relevance to human historical phenomena. He emphasizes that the capacity to avoid predictable, standardized responses, whether they are based on instinct or ingrained habit, is the source of human creativity. Homo sapiens is as much a particularizing as a generalizing animal. That is the major theme of this effort at the humanization of a discipline divided by space, time, and purpose.

Dennis H. Wrong is professor emeritus of sociology at New York University