"The sociology of knowledge" of Karl Mannheim has been critisized by both Marxists and social-psychologists. However, it must be admitted that its proper development is made to a great extent by the functional method of Robert Merton. In particular, Merton's detailed "paradigm to the sociology of knowledge" has contributed to clarification of terminology. On the other hand, although Merton insists that we have only to have a particular theory, yet I feel it necessary to have not only a particular theory but also a general theory which provides the foundation for a particular theory in sociology of knowledge. In other words, we need re-examination of the hypotheses of "function" with regard to the relation between "knowledge" and "society as a whole". I have devised the four types of social system (1. mutuality, 2. repulsiveness, 3. submission, 4. parallelity) according to the ways of the institutional arrangement. Furthermore, I have devised the usual concept of "function or dysfunction", the new concept of "ju-function" (a negative function regarded as a marginal one between function and dysfunction) and "i-function " (a function which contributes to the system by giving a differet original role to the function of some object distinct from a latent function). It seems very important for me to decide how each of such functions relates to the above mentioned types of social system.

第五十集記念号