A biography for Talcott Parsonshasn’t been written yet.
“Special emphasis should be laid on this intimate interrelation of general statements about empirical fact with the logical elements and structure of theoretical systems.”
“Now obviously the propositions of the system have reference to matters of empirical fact; if they did not, they could have no claim to be called scientific.”
“If observed facts of undoubted accuracy will not fit any of the alternatives it leaves open, the system itself is in need of reconstruction.”
“The functions of the family in a highly differentiated society are not to be interpreted as functions directly on behalf of the society, but on behalf of personality.”
“But the scientific importance of a change in knowledge of fact consists precisely in j its having consequences for a system of theory.”
“Empirical interest will be in the facts so far as they are relevant to the solution of these problems.”
“It is probably safe to say that all the changes of factual knowledge which have led to the relativity theory, resulting in a very great theoretical development, are completely trivial from any point of view except their relevance to the structure of a theoretical system.”