The Possibility of Realism

Abstract

In this book I shall inquire into the prospects for, and problems of, the new realist philosophy of social science as specifically applied to sociology and social psychology. In large part, I want to argue positively and suggest that the realist project is a step in the right direction towards a more informed and sophisticated framework with which to understand social analysis and the activities of social scientists in general. Thus, in this sense I am interested in fulfilling the aims and ideals of realism by adding to the extant corpus of work on this topic. However, I also want to suggest that the realist programme is beset with problems which stand in the way of its progress towards a comprehensive and coherent alternative to the positivist or humanist programmes. Thus, in this further sense I shall adopt a highly critical but constructive stance towards the existing literature on realism, in an attempt to prod it towards what I consider to be a more congenial direction.