🧠 Core Idea: Relation Between Agency, Structure & the Monism–Pluralism Debate | Notion

Exactly! You're on the right track. Let's clarify this with a conceptual mapping:

🧠 Core Idea: Relation Between Agency, Structure & the Monism–Pluralism Debate

Perspective	Belief About Agency	Structure's Role	View on Practice	Leads to...
Monism	Agency is constrained or shaped by external structures (capitalism, bureaucracy, rationality)	Strong/Determining	Practices become uniform or standardized	Monism (One dominant mode)
Pluralism	Agency is autonomous, reflexive — gives meaning and chooses practices	Weak/Enabling	Practices are diverse, negotiated	Pluralism (Multiple coexisting modes)

🧭 Examples to Illustrate

🧱 Monism Thinkers:

Karl Marx: Individual action is shaped by economic base → religious or cultural practices are "superstructure".
Durkheim: Collective conscience dominates → individual beliefs conform.
Parsons: Social system guides roles → individuals act according to norms → convergence.

Result: Agency is subordinate to structure → modernity results in homogenized practices.

🎭 Pluralism Thinkers:

Weber (later): Individuals act based on meaning → multiple value spheres.
Giddens: Reflexive modernity → people choose traditions, identities.
Bauman: Liquid modernity → identity is constantly reshaped.
Symbolic Interactionists (e.g., Mead, Blumer): Meaning is created through interaction, not imposed from above.

Result: Agency is active and interpretive → modernity enables diverse practices.

🧩 Key Insight: