Giddens's Theory of Structuration

Giddens defines social structure as &s;rules and resources, recursively implicated in the reproduction of social systems. Giddens employs also the notion of (social) system defined as &s;the patterning of social relations across time—space, understood as reproduced practices. While in the definition of structure the notion of &s;rules&s; is accompanied by that of &s;resources&s;, it is the former that primarily describes structure for Giddens. Giddens makes no distinction between perception corresponding to practical consciousness and perception corresponding to discursive consciousness. Giddens&s;s theorization of the actor introduces, therefore, two, rather than three, significant levels: a biologically determined &s;basic security system&s;, in the mechanisms of which the social has no influence or relevance, and, second, a level of primarily cognitive &s;memory traces&s; expressible either in practical or discursive consciousness. Giddens&s;s epistemological position is also worth discussing. He considers that the mode of knowledge proper to the social sciences is that of &s;double hermeneutics&s;.