Abstract

A text database of George Herbert Mead's published writings was created by typing the original articles into the computer readable format. About eighty articles written by Mead were made into computer readable form. Using this text database, it was possible for the first time to analyze, explain, and clearly define the actual uses of some of the most important of Mead's concepts. ;Part one of this study analyzes such important Meadian concepts as attitude, role, consciousness, consciousness of meaning, the act, and the self. According to the analysis, Mead never used the expression "role-taking" or "role taking" in his academic writings, but frequently used the expression "assuming the attitude of the other." His actual usages of the word "role" are limited, when compared to those of the "attitude." Upon analyzing the term "consciousness," it was possible to classify all Mead's usages of "consciousness" into six distinct categories, according to the objects of these words. The generative order of the "consciousness" is closely examined, and Mead's conception of human development is examined. His actual uses of the concepts of the "act" and the "self" are also scrutinized with the help of the database and other sources. ;Part two of this study is a comparison of Mead's work and Herbert Blumer's interpretations of it. Special attention is paid to Mead's and Blumer's understandings of the self and the scientific methodology: The two scholars' writings are compared to determine their similarities and the differences. Other scholars' commentaries on their relationship are also examined. One of the most important findings is that Blumer's understanding of Mead is not so different from Mead's original formulation, contrary to the position suggested by many critics. Instead, some major compatibilities are found between Mead and Blumer. As for the understanding of the self, both recognized that it functions especially in problematic situations. As for the scientific method, both tried to conduct naturalistic research on actual social problems, and did not advocate the use of operational definition of concepts