Practical Sociology: Post-empiricism and the Reconstruction of Theory and Application - Softcover

Bryant, Christopher

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0745614930 ISBN 13: 9780745614939

Publisher: Polity, 1995

Synopsis

This book offers a new analysis of some basic issues in sociology and social theory, arguing that the social sciencs can, and should, play a major practical role in modern social life.

About this title

About the Author

Christopher Bryant is the author of Practical Sociology: Post-empiricism and the Reconstruction of Theory and Application, published by Wiley.

From the Back Cover

What sort of social science should we look for in the wake of the large-scale transformations in theoretical thinking which have happened over the past two decades? How should we deal with the practical implications of the fall of empiricism and the apparent impossibility of discovering foundations for social scientific knowledge? This book offers a new analysis of some basic issues in sociology and social theory.

The emphasis of Bryant's work is upon the connections of theory and practice. As we escape from the unrealistic expectations which many once held for the social sciences we can begin to reconstruct the role which social science can play in influencing politics and public decision-making. The social sciences can, and should, play a major practical role in modern social life. In showing how this can still be so, the author gives many specific illustrations and comments extensively on the fortunes of different versions of sociological practice on both sides of the Atlantic.

This book will be essential reading for students, teachers and researchers with special interests in social theory, sociology and political science.

The emphasis of Bryant's work is upon the connections of theory and practice. As we escape from the unrealistic expectations which many once held for the social sciences we can begin to reconstruct the role which social science can play in influencing politics and public decision-making. The social sciences can, and should, play a major practical role in modern social life. In showing how this can still be so, the author gives many specific illustrations and comments extensively on the fortunes of different versions of sociological practice on both sides of the Atlantic.

This book will be essential reading for students, teachers and researchers with special interests in social theory, sociology and political science.

Edition details

• Publisher: Polity
• Publication date: 1995
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0745614930
• ISBN 13: 9780745614939
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 208