Who said that, "It seems impossible to speak of a social structure in the singular"?

The correct answer is - S. F. Nadel

Key Points

• S. F. Nadel
  • S. F. Nadel was a prominent anthropologist known for his work on social structures and their complexities.
  • He emphasized that it is impossible to speak of a social structure in the singular due to the diverse and multifaceted nature of social relationships.
  • Nadel's contributions are pivotal in understanding the dynamic interplay of various social factors.

Additional Information

• Social Structure
  • Social structure refers to the organized pattern of social relationships and social institutions that together compose society.
  • It is a complex framework consisting of various norms, roles, and institutions that guide human interaction.
• Anthropology
  • Anthropology is the study of humans, their behavior, and societies in the past and present.It encompasses various sub-fields such as cultural anthropology, archaeology, linguistic anthropology, and biological anthropology.
• Notable Anthropologists
  • Radcliffe Brown: Known for his work in structural functionalism and his studies of kinship and social organization.
  • R. K. Merton: A sociologist known for his theory of deviance and the concept of 'self-fulfilling prophecy.'
  • Talcott Parsons: An influential sociologist known for his theory of social action and the AGIL paradigm.