Suchergebnisse

In a footnote to Ernest Gellner's theories on relativism (eg, 1985 & 1987), an objectivist defense of the social sciences is offered on the basis of theories that are successful according to Karl Popper's standards. Contemporary relativism & skepticism about the ability of the social sciences to produce objective or true theories arise out of Thomas Kuhn's (1962) work. It is argued that a good theory offers statements describing the necessary & sufficient conditions for the explanation of a phenomenon. Further, the nonempirical elements of this theory should be acceptable. These criteria are met by any number of social scientific theories, eg, Alexis de Tocqueville's discussion of why religion flourishes in the US. The interpretive elements integral to social scientific theories are discussed in relation to the example of the theories of the origins of modernity. The growth of social scientific knowledge offers reason to be optimistic about the theoretical successes of sociology. 28 References. H. von Rautenfeld

"This paper attempts to examine the development of sociology of work in India. It will lay greater stress on current research and will try to assess the discipline's position in academia and other fields. A brief background on the nature of Indian society, the process of industrialization in India and the subsequent emergence of studies relating to work will help in understanding the changing nature of the studies. This paper will concentrate mainly on researches related to the urban-industrial sector." (excerpt)

An introductory essay reviews the history & current status of sociological theory & research on men & masculinity from an international perspective. Key concepts & emerging themes are presented, & the role of feminist theories in promoting the study of masculinity is discussed. The issues of "men's rights," the designation of the early 21st century as a "postfeminist" era, & the contention that contemporary males are "in crisis" are considered. The critical perspective employed by all contributors to this volume & its application to key questions in gender research are reviewed. 85 References. K. Hyatt Stewart

The relationship between archaeology and other sciences has only recently become a research topic for sociologists and historians of science. From the 1950s to the present day, different approaches have been taken and the aims of research studies have changed considerably. Besides methodological textbooks, which aim at advancing archaeological knowledge, historians of archaeology have tackled this question by exploring the development of archaeology as a scientific discipline. More recently, collaborations between archaeologists and other scientists have been examined as a general phenomenon regarding transfers of knowledge and power relationships between specialists, organizations, and scientific tools, where archaeology is considered as a scientific practice. Adopting a sociohistorical perspective, this entry examines the specificity of aims, facts, and procedures shared by archaeologists and other scientists regarding the crucial question of measuring time and computations.