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Crisis!? What Crisis!? On Social Theory and Reflexivity

Timothy Rutzou

Critical Realism, History, and Philosophy in the Social Sciences

ISBN: 978-1-78756-604-0, eISBN: 978-1-78756-603-3

ISSN: 0198-8719

Publication date: 27 July 2018

Abstract

The article argues for the necessity of theory within sociology, in general, and metatheory, in particular. It explores how theoretical, metatheoretical, and philosophical background conditions affect sociological research. It makes the case for why attending to background conditions is important for both the sociologist as an individual and also sociology as a collective and a discipline. In this context, it makes the case for critical realism as a useful program of metatheoretical reflexivity that focuses upon the more philosophical dimensions of sociology including the place of ontology and even how theory itself should be understood.

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgment

Special thanks to Paige Sweet, Douglas Porpora, and Frédéric Vandenberghe for their feedback, support, and assistance.

Citation

Rutzou, T. (2018), "Crisis!? What Crisis!? On Social Theory and Reflexivity", Critical Realism, History, and Philosophy in the Social Sciences (Political Power and Social Theory, Vol. 34), Emerald Publishing Limited, pp. 1-22. https://doi.org/10.1108/S0198-871920180000034001

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2018 Emerald Publishing Limited

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