Abstract
Social order and social change is based on social action. All sociological theories of action agree on this assumption. Beyond that insight action theories disagree on basic notions of how action can be explained, on basic principles clarifying the selection of action and on basic motivations of action as starting point to construct theories of social order and social change. Contemporary sociology accepts the multidimensionality of theoretical approaches. Open are questions of how action theories can be differentiated, related or combined to offer analytical instruments for empirical research. The idea this essay brings forward is that the classical dualism between utilitarism and normativism is transcended in support of action theories concentrating on the meaning of culture , communication , and on creativity . Integrated as a new typology these five action theories provide an analytical framework to research social order and social conflicts of modern societies