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- Title
The psychopathology of an everyday sociologist: Why Bryant should get his philosophy of science by prescription rather than off the shelf.
- Authors
Fuller, Steve
- Abstract
How should one theorize in a time when one's disciplinary identity is under fire? This is clearly a question pertinent to the contemporary sociological theorist, as made abundantly clear in sociologist Joseph Bryant's latest response to a round of debate on the viability of positivism as a paradigm in sociological theory. Bryant opens by noting the recent closure and near-closure of sociology departments in leading American universities, and then insinuates that the intellectual bankruptcy of positivist theory can be held responsible for this state of affairs. Rather than evaluating the acuity of Bryant's theorizing about this situation, the author of this article pose a straightforward question that will reveal Bryant's failure to adequately conceptualize what a respectable, reflexive, scientific sociology would entail. According to the author, he do not propose to contest the merits of scientific realism here, only the merits of adopting such a philosophy off the shelf without adequate consideration of whether it is consistent with what, sociologists themselves have shown about the historically contingent character of science.
- Subjects
UNITED States; SOCIAL theory; PATHOLOGICAL psychology; BRYANT, Joseph; SOCIOLOGISTS; SCIENCE &; society; POSITIVISM; UNIVERSITIES &; colleges
- Publication
Canadian Journal of Sociology, 1993, Vol 18, Issue 1, p65
- ISSN
0318-6431
- Publication type
Editorial
- DOI
10.2307/3340839