Problematika sociálnej diferenciácie u Alexandra Hirnera
The Issue of Social Differentiation in the Work of Alexander Hirner

Summary/Abstract: The Issue of Social Differentiation in the Work of Alexander Hirner. The article presents the contribution of A. Hirner to the elaboration of the issue in the Slovak sociology. Hirner’s original contribution is the term agent of the differentiation and the fact, that he studied this issue intentionally also as the researcher. His methodological approach it changed, we can distinguish two periods within his whole creative period, which differ in many aspects. In the time line, we can mark 40. years of 20th century as the first period and the second one since sixties until Hirner’s death. The first period, determinable as 40. years of 20th century, is influenced mainly by neoorganicism, but one can already found some components of the later theory of system there. During this period he published particular studies about the issue, in which he focussed on particular agents of the social differentiation, such as religion, age, share on the power, sociability, spatial distinction etc. The second period production is correlated with the system approach. His core work is the monograph Diferenciácia a ustaľovanie jej výsledkov. (Differentiation and Settlement of Its Results) (1946), where he defines the social differentiation as the social phenomena and the special attribute characterizing evolution of social units. The definition of the term differentiation is based on the application of the principle of the complementarity of the subjective and the objective. The work of the second period is based on the system approach. A. Hirner contributed importantly to the modernization of the Slovak sociological thinking in the Slovakia in the first half of the 20th century, mainly by using professional terminology and scientific style of writing, consistent adhering and elaboration of methodological procedures and their application. Such elaboration of the social differentiation is outstanding in the Slovak sociology of the 1st half of 20th century. Sociológia 2000 Vol 32 (No. 6: 577-592)

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