Problems of deviant behavior and morality in the existential sociology of Jack Douglas

Abstract

The paper discusses specifics of the existential approach to the problems of deviant behavior and morality in the sociology of modern American researcher, founder of the California School Jack Douglas. Among the main aspects of this approach there is particular emphasis on the intersubjective everyday experience of individuals and the principle of situational determination of meaning that deflects from solipsism to inductive revelation of transsituational meanings of interaction. Concerning the problem of morality situationism affirms the concept of situational ethics that contrasted the notion of absolute, abstract ethics. It is noted that the key to the existential understanding of deviant behavior and morality is the phenomenon of ethical dualism, which consists in the separation of public and private spheres of social life, and inherent moral conflict that does not destroy social order due to repressive social control and illusion of social consensus. There is proposition for further integration of Jack Douglas’ scientific ideas to general structure of the existential paradigm in sociology.