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'''Agency''' is a [[concept]] used in [[philosophy]] and [[sociology]] to refer to the capacity of an agent to [[act]] in a world. In philosophy, the agency is considered as belonging to that agent even if that agent represents a fictitious character, or some other non-existent [[entity]]. The capacity to act does not at first imply a specific [[moral]] [[dimension]] to the ability to make the [[choice]] to act, therefore moral agency is a distinct concept. In sociology, an agent is an [[individual]] engaging with the social [[structure]]; '''''the structure and agency debate''''' concerning the level of [[reflexivity]] that agent may possess.

'''Agency''' is a [[concept]] used in [[philosophy]] and [[sociology]] to refer to the capacity of an agent to [[act]] in a world. In philosophy, the agency is considered as belonging to that agent even if that agent represents a fictitious character, or some other non-existent [[entity]]. The capacity to act does not at first imply a specific [[moral]] [[dimension]] to the ability to make the [[choice]] to act, therefore moral agency is a distinct concept. In sociology, an agent is an [[individual]] engaging with the social [[structure]]; '''''the structure and agency debate''''' concerning the level of [[reflexivity]] that agent may possess.

==Human agency==

==Human agency==

==In philosophy==

==In philosophy==

In certain philosophical traditions (particularly those established by [[Hegel]] and [[Marx]]), human agency is a [[collective]], [[historical]] [[dynamic]], rather than a [[function]] arising out of [[individual]] [[behavior]]. Hegel's Geist and Marx's universal class are [[idealist]] and materialist expressions of this [[idea]] of humans treated as social beings, organized to act in concert.

In certain philosophical traditions (particularly those established by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hegel Hegel] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Marx Marx]), human agency is a [[collective]], [[historical]] [[dynamic]], rather than a [[function]] arising out of [[individual]] [[behavior]]. Hegel's Geist and Marx's universal class are [[idealist]] and materialist expressions of this [[idea]] of humans treated as social beings, organized to act in concert.

 

==In Sociology==

==In Sociology==

Structure and agency forms an enduring core [[debate]] in sociology. Essentially the same as in the Marxist conception, "agency" refers to the capacity of [[individuals]] to act independently and to make their own free [[choices]], whereas "Structure" refers to those factors (such as [[social class]], but also [[religion]], [[gender]], [[ethnicity]], subculture, etc) which seem to limit or influence the opportunities that individuals have.

Structure and agency forms an enduring core [[debate]] in sociology. Essentially the same as in the Marxist conception, "agency" refers to the capacity of [[individuals]] to act independently and to make their own free [[choices]], whereas "Structure" refers to those factors (such as [[social class]], but also [[religion]], [[gender]], [[ethnicity]], subculture, etc) which seem to limit or influence the opportunities that individuals have.

==References==

==References==

Bandura, A. (2001). Social cognitive theory: An agentic perspective. Annual Review of Psychology, 52, 1-26.

Bandura, A. (2001). Social cognitive theory: An agentic [[perspective]]. Annual Review of Psychology, 52, 1-26.

[[Category: Philosophy]]

[[Category: Philosophy]]

[[Category: Sociology]]

[[Category: Sociology]]