The Reality of Social Construction

Argues that versions of realist and social constructionist ways of thinking about the social world are compatible with each other.

Dave Elder-Vass (Author)

9781107630161, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 19 September 2013

296 pages, 6 b/w illus.
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.7 cm, 0.44 kg

'… perhaps the best known of the latest generation of realist social theorists … there is a great deal to be appreciated in Elder-Vass's discussion of prominent thinkers … his account of John Searle's work is one of the best I have read.' Jamie Morgan, Journal of Critical Realism

'Social construction' is a central metaphor in contemporary social science, yet it is used and understood in widely divergent and indeed conflicting ways by different thinkers. Most commonly, it is seen as radically opposed to realist social theory. Dave Elder-Vass argues that social scientists should be both realists and social constructionists and that coherent versions of these ways of thinking are entirely compatible with each other. This book seeks to transform prevailing understandings of the relationship between realism and constructionism. It offers a thorough ontological analysis of the phenomena of language, discourse, culture and knowledge, and shows how this justifies a realist version of social constructionism. In doing so, however, it also develops an analysis of these phenomena that is significant in its own right.

Part I. Social Ontology: 1. Introduction
2. Norm circles
Part II. Culture: 3. Culture and rules
4. Institutional reality
Part III. Language: 5. Signification
6. Langue and parole
7. Categories, essences and sexes
Part IV. Discourse: 8. Discourse
9. Cultures and classes
10. Subjects
Part V. Knowledge: 11. Knowledge
12. Reality
13. Conclusion.

Subject Areas: Social theory [JHBA], Social & political philosophy [HPS]