Wiley-Blackwell What is Social Theory?: The Philosophical Debates (Blackwell Companions to Social Theory)

Review "To invite authors of two broadly contrasting sociological camps to engage in the discussion helps to highlight a wide variety of issues in such a clear manner as to be of great value to students, not to mention a wider readership. For it not only enables the reader to understand the broadly accepted dual demarcation of interpretative and positive, but also to illuminate the more subtle differences that exist within each camp." Michael Keaney, University of Glasgow"There is no more thorough an editor in sociology than Alan Sica for the simple reason that there are so few who are as broadly literate as he and who, at the same time, know and understand good books and good writing. The list of authors include the most astute sociologists who happen to know philosophy." Charles Lemert, Wesleyan University"This volume would make useful reading for those interested in the philosophical underpinnings of social theory and where its continued inter-connection may take it in the future as well as, arguably, essential reading for those within the discipline who look more towards the natural sciences than the humanities for their influence." John Walliss, BSA Product Description An innovative and wide ranging collection of original essays by today's leading social theorists aiming to clarify the current uses being made of philosophical ideas in the creation of social thought. From the Publisher Blackwell PublishersThis wide-ranging collection of original essays examines the intersection of philosophy and social theory from a variety of viewpoints, some from the interpretative side of the discipline, and others from within the camp of formal and mathematical modelling. Leading practitioners from both of these major theoretical factions give voice to their plans for enlarging the scope of social theory and maintaining its vitality into the next century. They seek to help alleviate some of the crises that have recently afflicted sociology as it has struggled to accommodate postmodernism, feminism, moral philosophy, and other challengers to its classical analytic tradition. Chapters by the old guard are combined with chapters by some of the best representatives from various contemporary modes of theorizing. What is Social Theory? fills a unique role as a guide to philosophically informed social thought as it is practiced today. From the Inside Flap In this wide ranging collection of original essays, the intersection of philosophy and social theory is examined from a variety of viewpoints, some from the interpretative side of the discipline, and others from within the camp of formal and mathematical modeling. Leading practitioners from both of these major theoretical factions give voice to their plans for enlarging the scope of social theory, and maintaining its vitality, into the next century. They seek to help alleviate some of the crises that have recently afflicted sociology as it has struggled to accommodate postmodernism, feminism, moral philosophy, and other challengers to its classical analytic tradition. With chapters by Peter Blau and Stanley Lieberson, the old guard is well represented, as are newer interests concerning Nietzsche, the sociology of knowledge and of science, feminist phenomenology, neo-Kantian ethical theory, formal models of power and social action, to name a few. By including chapters by some of the best representatives from various contemporary modes of theorizing, the book fills a unique role as a guide to philosophically informed social thought as it is practised today. From the Back Cover In this wide ranging collection of original essays, the intersection of philosophy and social theory is examined from a variety of viewpoints, some from the interpretative side of the discipline, and others from within the camp of formal and mathematical modeling. Leading practitioners from both of these major theoretical factions give voice to their plans for enlarging the sc