To view prices and purchase online, please login or create an account now.



The Art of Social Theory

Hardback

Main Details

Title The Art of Social Theory
Authors and Contributors      By (author) Richard Swedberg
Physical Properties
Format:Hardback
Pages:288
Dimensions(mm): Height 216,Width 140
ISBN/Barcode 9780691155227
ClassificationsDewey:300.1
Audience
Tertiary Education (US: College)
Professional & Vocational
Illustrations 1 line illus. 1 table.

Publishing Details

Publisher Princeton University Press
Imprint Princeton University Press
Publication Date 10 August 2014
Publication Country United States

Description

In the social sciences today, students are taught theory by reading and analyzing the works of Karl Marx, Max Weber, and other foundational figures of the discipline. What they rarely learn, however, is how to actually theorize. The Art of Social Theory is a practical guide to doing just that. In this one-of-a-kind user's manual for social theorists, Richard Swedberg explains how theorizing occurs in what he calls the context of discovery, a process in which the researcher gathers preliminary data and thinks creatively about it using tools such as metaphor, analogy, and typology. He guides readers through each step of the theorist's art, from observation and naming to concept formation and explanation. To theorize well, you also need a sound knowledge of existing social theory. Swedberg introduces readers to the most important theories and concepts, and discusses how to go about mastering them. If you can think, you can also learn to theorize. This book shows you how. Concise and accessible, The Art of Social Theory features helpful examples throughout, and also provides practical exercises that enable readers to learn through doing.

Author Biography

Richard Swedberg is professor of sociology at Cornell University. His books include "Tocqueville's Political Economy", "Principles of Economic Sociology", and "Max Weber and the Idea of Economic Sociology" (all Princeton).

Reviews

"[C]oncise and readable... Writing in accessible language and using the canon of social theorists to illustrate points, Swedberg meets a need for practitioners and students alike."--Choice