Changes

==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 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hegel Hegel] and [http://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.