Sociological Reasoning Towards a Past-Modern Sociology [Hardcover]

While sociological modernists were outrageously presumptious in their claims for sociological knowledge, postmodernists have gone to another extreme in claiming that it has no more truth status than fiction. Critical of both positions, Sociological Reasoning develops an original typology of approaches to social scientific theory and research which is distinguished by its openness and reflexive awareness of rhetorical and methodological aspects of knowledge claims. Laced with graphic illustrative examples, this is a strikingly well-written text that will appeal to students at undergraduate level and beyond.While sociological modernists were outrageously presumptious in their claims for sociological knowledge, postmodernists have gone to another extreme in claiming that it has no more truth status than fiction. Critical of both positions, Sociological Reasoning develops an original typology of approaches to social scientific theory and research which is distinguished by its openness and reflexive awareness of rhetorical and methodological aspects of knowledge claims. Laced with graphic illustrative examples, this is a strikingly well-written text that will appeal to students at undergraduate level and beyond.Introduction.- Contemporary Developments in Social Theory: The Right Time for a Past-modern Sociology.- A Rich and Complex Ontology Analysis and Textuality: Players, Dreamers and Despots in Sociological Research.- The Pivotal Role of the Methodological Focus: A Positive Critique of Anthony Giddens.- Contextualising, Floating and Dreaming: Variations from the Sociologies of Politics, Culture and Ethics.- A Positive Scepticism Towards Claims about Empirical Evidence Past-modern Sociology and Textual Critique.- Exemplary Critiques of Sociological Modernism I: Comparative Citizenship and State Autonomy.- Exemplary Critiques of Sociological Modernism II: The Flying Sorcery of Sylvia.- Walby's Patriarchal Systems.- Conclusion.