The SAGE Handbook of the Philosophy of Social Sciences (Sage Handbooks) - Hardcover

Over four parts (37 chapters), the reader is promised coverage of the development and history of social sciences, as well as paradigms, assessment and use of social theories...Throughout, there are references to key thinkers and theories which provide a helpful refresher on social science history. In addition, the section summaries are clear and the notes and reference sections at the end of each chapter are useful...Not recommended for the casual browser, but a valuable reference book for anyone studying the history or philosophy of social sciences.

Lorraine Simpson
Blake Stevenson Ltd

The Handbook covers an impressively wide range of issues... the Handbook’s many virtues: its aim is ambitious, and it should serve its purpose extremely well. (Johanna Thoma Theoria)

- what is the relationship between the social sciences and the natural sciences?

- where do today's dominant approaches to doing social science come from?

- what are the main fissures and debates in contemporary social scientific thought?

- how are we to make sense of seemingly contrasting approaches to how social scientists find out about the world and justify their claims to have knowledge of it?

In this exciting handbook, Ian Jarvie and Jesús Zamora-Bonilla have put together a wide-ranging and authoritative overview of the main philosophical currents and traditions at work in the social sciences today.

Starting with the history of social scientific thought, this handbook sets out to explore that core fundamentals of social science practice, from issues of ontology and epistemology to issues of practical method. Along the way it investigates such notions as paradigm, empiricism, postmodernism, naturalism, language, agency, power, culture, and causality.

Bringing together in one volume leading authorities in the field from around the world, this book will be a must-have for any serious scholar or student of the social sciences.