This dissertation presents a general social theory that explains social, cultural, and economic ontology and as a byproduct the ontology of other social institutions and structures. It is intended to fill a gap in the literature of many social disciplines.;Using the framework of the complex adaptive systems model, this transdisciplinary social theory proposes that society, culture, and economy are emergent from social and environmental transaction and negotiation. Each transaction contains an element of interpretation, evaluation, and negotiation. With each transaction, there is continual reinterpretation, reevaluation, and renegotiation, however small or large. Even if the result is no change, reinterpretation, reevaluation, and renegotiation takes place. Thus, there is a constant emergence of social constructions and a continuous reconstruction of society in the 'specious present.' Practices, beliefs, explanations, and traditions become part of the accepted canon of a group through continual reinterpretation, reevaluation, and renegotiation. Deviations from canon and expected outcomes are managed through narrative. Narrative can be either rejected or accepted into the social canon of a group or society.;This transdisciplinary social theory utilized Peircean logic and Bhaskar's critical realism to refine the several theoretical works that were utilized. These include complex adaptive systems as developed by complexity science, Mead's social theory, Maslow's hierarchy of needs, Strauss' negotiated order theory, Bruner's narrative and folk psychology, Giddens structuration theory, and Ricoeur's interpretation theory.
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