Forms of Explanation: Rethinking the Questions in Social Theory

By Alan Garfinkel

Book Overview

What makes one explanation better than another? How can we tell when an explanation has really answered our question? In a lively and readable discussion, Garfinkel argues that the key to... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0300021364
• ISBN13: 9780300021363
• Release Date: September 1981
• Publisher: Yale University Press
• Length: 197 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 0.8" x 5.8"

Customer Reviews

ten, twenty, fifty stars

It is an unimaginable scandal that this book has fallen out-of-print. The fact that Garfinkel never wrote another one doesn't add to the possibility of it coming back into print either. Who's heard of him? I certainly hadn't, and if it wasn't for the sheer chance of my running into a discussion of this book in Delanda's Intensive Science and Virtual Philosophy and Elliott Sober's From a Biological Point of View, I never would have heard of it. Garfinkel is a strange and original monster. A social scientist with a strong philosophical and scientific background--I believe he is now entirely dedicated to studies in complexity theory in relation to the heart---he approaches each of the fascinating topics he presents in one of the most creative and novel ways I've ever come across. He brings to the table the questions of "contrast spaces" and "relevance" and develops an ingenious method for analyzing problems, how and where to look for solutions, what forms explanations should take, and so on. This method is demonstrated with uncommon wit and lucidity, across questions of ethics, science, social and economic issues, and ultimately questions of truth. No one need be afraid of the contents, for Garfinkel is about as good a writer as anyone could hope for; and the book is short; and after finishing it, you don't feel mystified but rather sort of pregnant with thought not present before. Of course, the contents require more explication than I've given to be really evident to any prospective readers, and for that sort of detail you should check out Delanda and Sober's aforementioned books, which are readily available. But, on the strength of my word, whatever that's worth, I swear you will love this book, even if you disagree with everything in it. Fascinating, brilliant, and shamefully ignored.

Oddly Compelling read for a textbook

Cutting edge philosophy that reads like a thriller! Can't put it down!