Mapping a pragmatist conception of public problems

Abstract

In this article we review some concepts that help us think about public problems from the pragmatist perspective. To achieve this, we carry out a brief summary of the contributions to this topic during the 1960s and the 1970s by authors from the Chicago school, presented in the first part of the article. In the second part, we show the similarities and differences the French speaking authors that concern us, hold with this school; we also show what we consider to be their main contributions to the study of public problems. Finally, we synthesized elements that we consider useful to think today pragmatist sociology of public problems and conclude the text making a brief account of those points which we believe have not been sufficiently developed by these authors, indicating a possible research agenda.