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Values have always been a central topic in both philosophy and the
social sciences. Statements about what is good or bad, fair or
unfair, legitimate or illegitimate, express clear beliefs about
human existence. The fact that values differ from culture to
culture and century to century opens many questions. In The Origin
of Values, Raymond Boudon offers empirical, data-based analysis of
existing theories about values, while developing his own
perspective as to why people accept or reject value statements.
Boudon classifies the main theories of value, including those based
on firm belief, social or biological factors, and rational or
utilitarian attitudes. He discusses the popular and widely
influential Rational Choice Model and critiques the postmodernist
approach. Boudon investigates why relativism has become so powerful
and contrasts it with the naturalism represented by the work of
James Q. Wilson on moral sensibility. He follows with a
constructive attempt to develop a new theory, beginning with
Weber's idea of non-instrumental rationality as the basis for a
more complex idea of rationality. Applying Boudon's own and
existing theories of value to political issues and social ideas the
end of apartheid, the death penalty, multiculturalism,
communitarianismThe Origin of Values is a significant work. Boudon
fulfills a major task of social science: explanation of collective
belief. His book will be of interest to sociologists, philosophers,
psychologists, and political scientists.
Values have always been a central topic in both philosophy and the
social sciences. Statements about what is good or bad, fair or
unfair, legitimate or illegitimate, express clear beliefs about
human existence. The fact that values differ from culture to
culture and century to century opens many questions. In The Origin
of Values, Raymond Boudon offers empirical, data-based analysis of
existing theories about values, while developing his own
perspective as to why people accept or reject value statements.
Boudon classifies the main theories of value, including those based
on firm belief, social or biological factors, and rational or
utilitarian attitudes. He discusses the popular and widely
influential Rational Choice Model and critiques the postmodernist
approach. Boudon investigates why relativism has become so powerful
and contrasts it with the naturalism represented by the work of
James Q. Wilson on moral sensibility. He follows with a
constructive attempt to develop a new theory, beginning with
Weber's idea of non-instrumental rationality as the basis for a
more complex idea of rationality. Applying Boudon's own and
existing theories of value to political issues and social ideas-the
end of apartheid, the death penalty, multiculturalism,
communitarianism-The Origin of Values is a significant work. Boudon
fulfills a major task of social science: explanation of collective
belief. His book will be of interest to sociologists, philosophers,
psychologists, and political scientists.
Showing little respect for intellectual fads and fashions, the
authors submit key sociological concepts, theories and figures to a
searching examination. In doing so they reaffirm that a non-Marxist
critique is still possible. This book should be of interest to
students and teachers of sociology.
Unlike most other sociology or social science dictionaries, in this
translation of the Critical Dictionary of Sociology, taken from the
second French edition of the Dictionary and edited by the English
sociologist Peter Hamilton, the critical value of this distinctive
work is at last made available for a wider audience. Each entry
grapples directly with an issue, whether theoretical,
epistemological, philosophical, political or empirical, and
provides a strong statement of what the authors think about it. The
discussions are considered but argumentative. By reaffirming that a
non-marxist style of critique is still possible, Boudon and
Bourricaud have presented a distinctive approach to the key issues
which confront the societies of the Twentieth and Twenty-First
centuries. For some this work will be a textbook, for others an
indispensable sourcebook of sociological concepts, and for most a
way of opening our eyes to new dimensions in our understanding of
the great ideas and theories of sociology.
Without Paul F. Lazarsfeld the social sciences would not be what
they are today. In his ground-breaking work on unemployment,
voting, consumer behavior, and social influence, among other
subjects, his methodological emphasis on vigorously controlled
scientific language and structures transformed social research
worldwide.
Lazarsfeld's systematic criticism of observational, conceptual, and
inferential procedures in sociology led to the the formation of
universally applied observational and analytical techniques, such
as the panel design of observation and contextual and multivariate
analysis. His methodology for empirical social research had a
profound effect on all the social sciences.
The eighteen essays in "On Social Research and Its Language"
illustrate the diversity of Lazarsfeld's substantive,
methodological, and organizational interests. Spanning the years
1933 to 1972, they encompass his own works of social research, as
well as writings on methodology and the history and sociology of
social research. Articles on methodology--observing, classifying
and building typologies, analyzing the relations between variables,
qualitative analysis, and macrosociology--form the bulk of the
book. In addition, Raymond Boudon provides a revealing biography of
Lazarsfeld and his influence on sociology.
These classic writings by a formative figure of modern social
science will be an indispensable reference for scholars across the
historical and social science disciplines.
Die Autoren dieses sozialwissenschaftlichen Standardwerkes
behandeln in mehr als siebzig Grundsatzartikeln zu
Schlusselbegriffen, Theorien und historisch wesentlichen Autoren
die zentralen Probleme der Soziologie. Insgesamt bietet der Band
eine ebenso umfassende wie kritische Einfuhrung in Entwicklung und
Stand der Soziologie und ihrer einzelnen Bereiche."
This work, by one of Europe's foremost social theorists, presents a
critical history of the concept of ideology. The author's
discussion ranges from the early conceptions of ideology to its
current usage in the works of Barthes, Foucault, Habermas and
others.
Boudon develops a distinctive and original approach to the
analysis of ideology. Drawing on a series of case studies, he seeks
to explain how and why social actors adhere so readily to false or
dubious ideas. In opposition to those views which associate
ideology with irrationalism, Boudon develops a rationalist theory
which helps to explain why certain ideas are believed by
individuals and are thereby effective in the social world.
Rigorously argued and clearly written, this work is a major
restatement of Boudon's theoretical views and a timely intervention
in current debates. It will be of particular interest to students
of sociology, politics and philosophy.
This work, by one of Europe's foremost social theorists, presents a
critical history of the concept of ideology. The author's
discussion ranges from the early conceptions of ideology to its
current usage in the works of Barthes, Foucault, Habermas and
others. Boudon develops a distinctive and original approach to the
analysis of ideology. Drawing on a series of case studies, he seeks
to explain how and why social actors adhere so readily to false or
dubious ideas. In opposition to those views which associate
ideology with irrationalism, Boudon develops a rationalist theory
which helps to explain why certain ideas are believed by
individuals and are thereby effective in the social world.
Rigorously argued and clearly written, this work is a major
restatement of Boudon's theoretical views and a timely intervention
in current debates. It will be of particular interest to students
of sociology, politics and philosophy.
Divided into two 4 volume sets, this collection provides a complete guide to social theory from 1700 to the present day. Each set is divided around eight essential issues which are of core concern to social theory: social action and basic processes of interaction; social institutions; social structure; social representations; social change; theoretical orientations; problems in the philosophy of social sciences; sociology's reflections upon itself and its relations with other social sciences. The collections are designed to show how thinking in social theory has changed since 1700 on all of these essential issues and to give a comprehensive and concise guide to the main issues. The editors provide a collection which distils the essence of the key questions so that researchers and advanced students will need to look no further for a guide to the essentials in social theory.
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