Philosophy of Social Science The Philosophical Foundations of Social Thought

The 10th anniversary edition of this highly regarded text continues to give a comprehensive introduction to philosophical problems in the social sciences. New commentary is given on each chapter, exploring developments in the field and offering fresh perspectives on classic ideas. This book remains essential reading for all social theory students.

TED BENTON Professor of Sociology at the University of Essex, UK. He is the esteemed author of many books, including Philosophical Foundations of the Three Sociologies, The Rise and Fall of Structural Marxism and Natural Relations: Ecology, Animal Rights and Social Justice.

IAN CRAIB sometime Professor of Sociology at the University of Essex, UK, until his death in 2002. He was a prominent sociologist and the author of numerous books, including Modern Social Theory: From Parsons to Habermas and Classical Social Theory.

Preface to the Second Edition
Introduction to the First Edition
Empiricism and Positivism in Science
Some Problems of Empiricism and Positivism
Science, Nature and Society: Some Alternatives to Empiricism
Interpretive Approaches 1: Instrumental Rationality
Interpretive Approaches 2: Rationality as Rule-Following: Cultures, Traditions and Hermeneutics
Interpretive Approaches 3: Critical Rationality
Critical Realism and the Social Sciences
Feminism, Knowledge and Society
Post-Structuralism and Postmodernism
Conclusion: In Defence of Philosophy
Critical Engagements With Recent Developments
Appendix I: Personal Conclusions
Appendix II: Obituary for Professor Ian Craib