Testament for Social Science (RLE Social Theory): An Essay in the Application of Scientific Method to Human Problems: Volume 86 (Routledge Library Editions: Social Theory) - Hardcover

Wootton, Barbara

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1138790478 ISBN 13: 9781138790476

Publisher: Routledge, 2014

Synopsis

The contrast between man’s amazing ability to manipulate his world and his pitiful incompetence in managing his own affairs is now as commonplace as it is tragic. It is by rigorous devotion to scientific method that we have made our conquests over the material environment; it is obvious that this method is not normally applied to the field of relations of human beings, individual and collective. These are conducted in a quite different way, governed by a medley of primitive impulses set in a framework of a traditional morality that varies from place to place and age to age. In these matters science plays little part; yet more than a century has passed since Auguste Comte said that the rational reform of society must be brought about by the application of scientific method to social problems. It is, therefore, the first purpose of this essay to ask how far social problems might be tackled by the methods of science.

About this title

About the Author

NICHOLAS ABERCROMBIE, University of Lancaster

ALAN WARDE, University of Manchester

ROSEMARY DEEM, University of Lancaster

SUE PENNA, University of Lancaster

KEITH SOOTHILL, University of Lancaster

ANDREW SAYER, University of Lancaster

JOHN URRY, University of Lancaster

SYLVIA WALBY, University of Leeds

His main research in recent years has been in advocating and developing a new paradigm for the social sciences, the new mobilities paradigm

Edition details

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2014
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1138790478
• ISBN 13: 9781138790476
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 208