1986年5月,芝加哥大学社会学系教授詹姆斯·S.科尔曼在《美国社会学杂志》(AJS)上发表了题为《社会理论、社会研究和行动理论》的长篇论文,对第二次世界大战以来的美国社会学,提出了挑战。此后,美国社会学呈现出一种新的发展趋势。本文拟对此作一简单介绍。问题的提出第二次世界大战以来,有两位美国社会学家深刻地影响着美国社会学的发展。其一 In May 1986, James S. Coleman, a professor of sociology at the University of Chicago, published a long essay entitled “Theory of Society, Social Studies and Action Theory,” in the Journal of the American Sociological Society (AJS) American sociology since World War II posed challenges. Since then, American sociology presents a new trend of development. This article intends to make a brief introduction to this. Issues raised Since the Second World War, two American sociologists have profoundly influenced the development of American sociology. One of them