Sociological reasoning

"Building a bridge between sociological theory and methodology, Sociological Reasoning develops an original typology of approaches to social scientific theory and research that is distinguished by its openness and reflexive awareness of rhetorical and methodological aspects of knowledge claims. Stones argues that contemporary social theory and postmodernism are both to be distinguished from sociological modernism by the sensitivity they each show to the rich, diverse and complex nature of the social world; and yet, in terms of the epistemology and methodology of the research process, both are found to be wanting. He argues instead for a sociology that is rigorous, modest and sceptical, which accepts that it works with fragments of the real rather than with complete stories." "Laced with graphic and often witty examples from everyday life, the sociological literature and also contemporary fiction, and including illuminating critiques of the work of sociologists such as Giddens, Bauman, Mann and Walby, this is a strikingly refreshing and engaging text that will appeal to students of sociological theory at undergraduate level and beyond."--BOOK JACKET.

First sentence: I will begin the task of crafting an alternative between defeatist postmodernism and the complacency of sociological modernism by, first, looking at the ways in which transparent forms of realism have been undermined by contemporary developments in literature, literary criticism and philosophy.

Year

1996

Language

English

Publisher

Palgrave Macmillan

Editions

1

Pages

257

ISBN

9780312160760

Data source: Wikidata