内容简介：
In this ground-breaking new text, Patrick Baert analyzes the central perspectives in the philosophy of social science, critically investigating the work of Durkheim, Weber, Popper, critical realism, critical theory, and Rorty's neo pragmatism. This book places key writers in their social and political contexts, helping to make their ideas meaningful to students. It shows how these authors' views have practical uses in empirical research. It presents a lively approach that makes complex ideas understandable to upper-level students, as well as having scholarly appeal.