4 THEORETICAL APPROACHES TO LEISURE - PAST TO PRESENT

By one of the older generation of scholars, this paper presents four t heoretical approaches from among his studies: 1) a conceptualization o f the term leisure, based on the ''ideal construct'' of Max Weber and the ''human coefficient'' of Florian Znaniecki, 2) several ''polaritie s'' or frameworks for contrasting leisure actions, 3) a comprehensive model of four squares of elements in leisure, progressing from the ''c onditions of leisure'' to the ''cultivated social order,'' and 4) a cr escendo-diminuendo visualization of the fusion of social roles, charac teristic of primitive society, increasing differentiation in kilowatt society, and fusion again in the cultivated social order. A discussion then follows, suggesting that the openness and flexibility of each me ets the needs of the emerging century, especially the influence of the new technologies. Finally, in view of personal influences on the deve lopment of these approaches, a ''sociology of sociologists'' is called for, as a new direction for Loisir et Societe.