The Politics of Constructionism [Paperback]

This broad-ranging and clearly structured book critically overviews the many themes of social constructionism and its relevance to contemporary social and political issues. It brings together leading international contributors from across the social sciences, drawing on insights from psychology, sociology, politics, philosophy, cultural, gender and science studies.

Major questions and topics explored in its critique and application of constructionist ideas include the theory and practice of scientific method, the development of social and political policy, the use of social science statistical methods, self-identity and the politics of collective identities, and technological advances in reproductive medicine.This broad-ranging and clearly structured book critically overviews the many themes of social constructionism and its relevance to contemporary social and political issues. It brings together leading international contributors from across the social sciences, drawing on insights from psychology, sociology, politics, philosophy, cultural, gender and science studies.

Major questions and topics explored in its critique and application of constructionist ideas include the theory and practice of scientific method, the development of social and political policy, the use of social science statistical methods, self-identity and the politics of collective identities, and technological advances in reproductive medicine.Introduction - Irving Velody and Robin Williams
PART ONE: FORMULATING CONSTRUCTIONISM
Towards a Constructivist Genealogy of Social Constructivism - Michael Lynch
Constructionist Dialogues and the Vicissitudes of the Politics - Kenneth Gergen
On Being More Literal about Construction - Ian Hacking
PART TWO: THE LIMITS OF CONSTRUCTIONISM
What Does the Sociology of Scientific Knowledge Explain? - Paul A Roth
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