From: "Conlon, Ryan" <r.conlon-AT-lancaster.ac.uk> Subject: RE: BHA: Request for Recommendations for a "Novice" Date: Sun, 28 Apr 2002 20:45:00 +0100 Hi Brad I would second the recommendations from Ruth Groff, especially the Collier book. In addition, you say you have read Andrew Sayer's Method in Social Science, I would highly recommend his more recent Realism and Social Science, Sage, 2000. Best Ryan 'For me, life exists only insofar as I can theorize it.' Slavoj Zizek Ryan Conlon Department of Sociology Lancaster University Lancaster LA1 4YL Tel. +44 (0) 1524 593570 Fax. +44 (0) 1524 594256 e-mail. r.conlon-AT-lancaster.ac.uk home. http://www.lancs.ac.uk/postgrad/conlon > -----Original Message----- > From: Ruth Groff [SMTP:rgroff-AT-yorku.ca] > Sent: 28 April 2002 20:42 > To: bhaskar-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu > Subject: Re: BHA: Request for Recommendations for a "Novice" > > Hi Brad, > > Welcome! > > I suspect that the recommendations that you receive for what to read > (especially of Bhaskar's own works) will vary widely, depending on people's > own views. > > My own number one unequivocal recommendation for someone in your position is > Andrew Collier's *Critical Realism: An Introduction to Roy Bhakser's > Philosophy*. Verso, I think. 1994. Collier's writing is engaging, accurate > and completely reader-friendly. The book mostly covers the ideas of *A > Realist Theory of Science* and *The Possibility of Naturalism* -- which is to > say, transcendental realism and critical naturalism, as Bhaskar originally > dubbed the positions set out in those books. > > As I said, this is my number one recommendation. Hands down. > > Beyond this, on Mervyn's recommendation I bought *Explaining Reality: > Critical Realism in the Social Sciences* Danermark, et. al., Routledge, 2002. > I have only just started it, but it does look good. It might be a good thing > to turn to AFTER Collier. > > In terms of where to start with Bhaskar himself, here it is really a matter > of which ideas you want to focus on, how you view the development over time, > etc. I guess I would say why not start with the selections from Bhaskar that > are in the Essential Readings collection that you already have. I would > probably read them in the order that they present them there, but that may > tell you more about me and my interests than anything else! (I have worked > most closely with the earlier books.) > > Feel free to ask for input from people, on or off list, with whatever you are > reading. Keep in mind that there's lots of disagreement, both interpretive > and evaluative, amongst list members. (And do get your hands on Collier's > intro.!) > > Warmly, > Ruth > > At 02:12 PM 28/04/2002 -0400, you wrote: > > >Bhaskar List Members, > > > >I am new to this list, and am seeking some help and recommendations. I'm an > applied sociologist (I evaluate educational and human service programs, for a > living) and am newly studying critical realism. I must say that I ve found > Bhaskar s work, although clearly very important, initially pretty heavy > going. I am now trudging through the anthology Critical Realism Essential > Readings, and simultaneously perusing Plato, etc.The Problems of Philosophy > and Their Resolution. The latter book claims, apparently without irony, "to > be his most accessible, to date." > > > >My questions: > > > >1. Are there secondary texts or articles that list members would recommend > that would ease my initiation to Bhaskar, and more generally, critical > realism? (I just finished , Philosophy of Social Science: the Philosophical > Foundations of Social Thought, by Ted Benton and Ian Craib, which is a > succinct and serviceable primer, with a chapter on CR.) > > > >2. Are their accessible works that discuss the "practical" applications or > perhaps "implications" of CR for social science research? (I ve enjoyed > Andrew Sayer, Method in the Social Sciences, and would welcome other > suggestions.) > > > >3. Is there a preferred order for approaching Bhaskar s writings? For > example, one reader suggested looking at his writings in reverse > chronological order: "Philosophy and the Idea of Freedom," "Reclaiming > Reality," "Scientific Realism and Human Emancipation," "The Possibility of > Naturalism," and "A Realist Theory of Science." > > > >Many thanks in advance for your suggestions and assistance. You may choose, > if you would like, to reply off-list to: > <mailto:bradrose1-AT-attbi.com>bradrose1-AT-attbi.com > >Brad Rose, Ph.D. > >e-mail: <mailto:bradrose1-AT-attbi.com>bradrose1-AT-attbi.com > > > >"An optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all possible worlds; and > the pessimist fears this is true." --James Bench Cabell, The Silver Stallion, > 1926 > > > > > > --- from list bhaskar-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu --- --- from list bhaskar-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---
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