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Unit-27: Classification of Logical and Non-Logical Action

self assessment notes
Fill in the blanks—
1. On defining the sociology Pareto has introduced two …………………………… Logical-Action
and Non-logical Action.
2. And at the end of this principle of non-logical action Pareto uses his ideas of Residues and
…………………………….. .
3. The definition of sociology given by Pareto and its methods are related with these
………………

Definition and Meaning

Lewis Kojer has given the definition of Logical Action in such a manner—
Logical actions are those which use the appropriate means for getting the end. The action adds the
means and end in the logical manner.
Kojer has interpreted logical action according to which it is very clear that human confirm his objective
before any action. This is its end. After confirming the end he checks in logical manner what would
be the appropriate instrument to get it. But when he thinks about the instrument he gets confused.
For example, the university student wants to pass with higher division. It is his end. Everything is
alright till here. Now confusion comes. How this higher division is gotten? He feels that he copy from
other; make relations with examiner and get the higher division. This option is a Means. Pareto says
this as subjective action. But he looks towards the society. Society says that he should do maximum
labour to get higher division. This saying of society is objective. Now what should student do? If he
reject his own mind i.e., self-option and accept the objective option then it will be his logical Action.
It means that adjustment is happened among objective action and subjective action in logical action.
It will be formulated as following—
Subjective action + Objective action = Logical Action
Parsons has interpreted logical action more accurately. He says— Action becomes logical when it
accepts the one side of the standards set by the society.
Parsons doesn’t talk about means ends clearly here. But when he discusses to accept the appropriate
type of standards then it is clear that he gives the importance to the standards accepted by the society.
If it would be seen that the matter of means–ends is spoken up earnestly after Parsons and Morton’s
principle of action. Morton has supported Anomie’s idea. He says that terms-inferiority enters in
the society when a human doesn’t believe the rules of society for getting his objectives. If Morton is
moulded with the means–ends idea of Pareto then it will be said that Morton accepts the matter of
freedom from Anomie when human accepts the social accepted objectives and means both. Gandhiji
has also spoken up about means–ends in our country. He says that human should peg away in the
getting of his objectives. But the means he uses should be holy. To be a millionaire, If someone does
smuggling of the drugs and achieve his objective overnight then Gandhiji says that his objectives are
not holy. So what if he became a millionaire, whatever ways he has used his means are dirty.

Notes Logical activity is that activity in which means–ends are attached on logical base i.e.,
means should be such that causes to ends. In other words, means should be such
which are appropriate. Here Pareto means ‘social accepted’ by ‘appropriate’.

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