Действие, парадокс и непреднамеренные последствия: контрфинальность как комплексная социологическая проблема

Социологические исследования. 2022. № 5. С. 3–14.

Latypov I.

Counterfinality is the unintended consequences stemming from uncoordinated actions.
It may be described as a complex theoretical problem, including understanding the motive for action,
transition from individual goals to collective results, and unintended consequences. Understanding the
motive for action is an initial challenge in the study of counterfinality. This understanding can be reached by
having a stock of social knowledge and an understanding of typical situations and typical motives. However,
attempt to describe a motive for action is only a hypothesis, and the actual course of events is the basis
for understanding action. Therefore ethnographic observations come first in describing counterfinality.
After that, it is important to trace transition from these actions to collective irrational consequences. Such
a transition is possible because of the shortsightedness of individuals focused only on their private goals.
In addition to these misperceptions, unintended collective consequences may have other conditions of
occurrence: insufficient information, publicly voiced predictions and etc. The presented sequence of
counterfinality description from action to consequences is theoretical reference point while a detailed
description of all stages of counterfinality emergence is the task for an empirical study.

Keywords: мотив, action, действие, иррациональность, rationality, рациональность, непреднамеренные последствия, paradox, motive, irrationality, контрфинальность, counterfinality, unintended consequences