The (Expanded)Social Scientist's Bestiary addresses a number of important theoretical and philosophical issues in the social sciences from the perspective of contemporary philosophy of science. The book discusses and critiques the various arguments that purport to establish that it is a mistake to believe that a naturalistic social science- i.e. social science that in some way resembles the natural sciences- can be produced. It is intended to guide social scientists-researchers, teachers, and students-so that they will not fall victim to the beasts they will encounter in the course of their inquiries. Such beasts include holism, post-positivistic work in the philosophy of science, Kuhnian relativism, the denial of objectivity and value neutrality, hermeneutics and several others, both good and bad. This expanded and revised edition contains four new chapters tackling such contemporary beasts as Popperian rules, narrative research, and various forms of constructivism. The chapters presented in this volume are, as far as possible, self-contained so that each chapter can be consulted without the necessity of having read the others, thus making this volume an invaluable guide for faculty members and graduate students in the whole of the social sciences and related applied fields.

About the Author
D. C. Phillips is professor of education and philosophy and associate dean for academic affairs in the School of Education at Stanford University.

Reviews
How refreshing it is to see concepts such as truth, values, and objectivity discussed intelligently within the context of social science. Phillips unravels the complexities of constructivism, hermeneutics, naturalism, narrative research, and positivism with his insightful analysis and lucid writing. This is a must read for all of us who are students of the social sciences; students in the sense that we are as concerned about the questions we ask and the ways in which we go about answering them as we are in the answers we ultimately find. -- Lorin W. Anderson, Carolina Distinguished Professor Emeritus, University of South Carolina
Should be required reading for all Ph.D. candidates in social science. It is a mind clearing analysis of the highest order, prophylactic and curative of the numerous methodological and substantive ills that afflict us. It is especially needed today when the 'positivist-bashers' are using the Vienna Circle's mistakes and Kuhn's exaggerations for obscurantist purposes. -- Paul E. Meehl, Minnesota Center for Philosophy of Science
This is vintage D. C. Phillips. A spirited, wide-ranging, postpositivist apologia for a naturalistic interpretation of the social sciences. This expanded new edition examines the 'habits' of two new fashionable beasts known as narrative research and social constructionism and offers a neo-Popperian account of falsificationism. In substance and style, The Bestiary displays Phillips' unswerving commitment to reasoned argument, empirical grounding, and the regulative ideals of truth and objectivity asthe foundations for sound social science. This book is a must-read for any scholar seeking to come to terms with a contemporary account of naturalism in the social sciences... -- Thomas A. Schwandt, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
This is vintage D. C. Phillips. A spirited, wide-ranging, postpositivist apologia for a naturalistic interpretation of the social sciences. This expanded new edition examines the 'habits' of two new fashionable beasts known as narrative research and social constructionism and offers a neo-Popperian account of falsificationism. In substance and style, The Bestiary displays Phillips' unswerving commitment to reasoned argument, empirical grounding, and the regulative ideals of truth and objectivity as the foundations for sound social science. This book is a must-read for any scholar seeking to come to terms with a contemporary account of naturalism in the social sciences. -- Thomas A. Schwandt, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign



Book Information
ISBN 9780847698912
Author D. C. Phillips
Format Paperback
Page Count 296
Imprint Rowman & Littlefield
Publisher Rowman & Littlefield
Weight(grams) 381g
Dimensions(mm) 228mm * 148mm * 16mm