Critical Realism

Critical Realism is, in my view, the most promising philosophy of social science for framing sociological research and theory. Critical realism offers the best alternative to positivist empiricism, on the one hand, and post-modern linguistic constructionism, on the other. Yet few American sociologists appear to be aware of the substance and importance of the critical realist approach. This page offers resources for those wanting to learn more about critical realism and how it can improve the quality and value of sociology in the U.S.

BOOKS

Introductions

Mats Eckstrom et al., 2002, Explaining Society: Critical Realism in the Social Sciences, New York: Routledge.

Andrew Sayer, 2000, Realism and Social Science, New York: Sage Publications.

Andrew Collier, 1994, Critical Realism: an Introduction to Roy Bhaskar's Philosophy, London: Verso.

Margaret Archer et al. (eds.), 1998, Critical Realism: Essential Readings, New York: Routledge.

Substantive Theory

Margaret Archer, 1995, Realist Social Theory : The Morphogenetic Approach, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Margaret Archer, 2000, Being Human: The Problem of Agency, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Margaret Archer, 1996, Culture and Agency, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Jose Lopez and Garry Potter, 2005, After Postmodernism: An Introduction to Critical Realism, Continuum International.

Roy Bhaskar, 1997, A Realist Concept of Science, London: Verso.