The Possibility of Naturalism: A philosophical critique of the contemporary human sciences

By Roy Bhaskar

Book Overview

Since its original publication in 1979, The Possibility of Naturalism has been one of the most influential works in contemporary philosophy of science and social science. It is one of the cornerstones of the critical realist position, which is now widely seen as offering perhaps the only viable alternative to positivism and post positivism. This fourth edition contains a new foreword from Mervyn Hartwig, who is founding editor of the Journal of Critical Realism and editor and principal author of the Dictionary of Critical Realism.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1138798886
• ISBN13: 9781138798885
• Release Date: July 2014
• Publisher: Routledge
• Length: 194 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.1" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Critical Realist Social Science

This is the follow up to A Realist Theory of Science (RTS) in which Bhaskar takes up the nature of social science from a Critical Realist Standpoint. Now the Transformational Model of Social Activity in this book and the discussion around it has been superceded by Archer's Morphogenetic Model. Additionally, Bhaskar's Reclaiming Reality has additional updates on this book. You should read RTS before you read this one. While there is an introduction to critical realism, it is probably not sufficient for you to understand what is coming. In terms of reading difficult, it is Bhaskar's writing. If you got throught RTS, you'll know what to expect.