Scholar Spotlight

Causal Powers in the Social Sciences panel at International Association of Critical Realism 2016 – Presentation by Dave Elder-Vass

3rd August 201610th October 2022
Scholar Spotlight

During the International Association for Critical Realism (IACR) Annual Conference held in Cardiff, UK from July 19-23rd, 2016, Dave Elder-Vass, Philip Gorski and Timothy Rutzou participated in a panel “Causal Powers in the Social Sciences”. This panel stemmed from the… Read More »Causal Powers in the Social Sciences panel at International Association of Critical Realism 2016 – Presentation by Dave Elder-Vass

Interview with Professor Margaret Archer on ‘The Relational Subject’

10th June 201610th October 2022
Scholar Spotlight

Dr. Timothy Rutzou interviews Professor Margaret Archer (Centre for Social Ontology) her recent book with Pierpaolo Donati, The Relational Subject (Cambridge University Press), which was awarded the Cheryl Frank Memorial Prize 2015. In their recent work, The Relational Subject, Archer… Read More »Interview with Professor Margaret Archer on ‘The Relational Subject’

Interview with Professor Margaret Archer on the Morphogenetic Approach

12th May 201610th October 2022
Scholar Spotlight

Dr. Timothy Rutzou conducted an interview with Professor Margaret Archer (Sociology, University of Warwick) after the Causal Powers and Social Sciences Conference. In this interview, Archer discusses how she developed the morphogenetic approach as a critique of positivism from her early… Read More »Interview with Professor Margaret Archer on the Morphogenetic Approach

The Emergence of Ethical Concepts in Social History with Professor Webb Keane

5th February 201610th October 2022
Scholar Spotlight, Theoretical Reflections

Q & A with Professor Webb Keane in response to questions from his recent webinar. To listen to the live recording of the webinar, click Here. To purchase his book Ethical Life: Its Natural and Social Histories, click Here 1. Are nonhuman animals capable… Read More »The Emergence of Ethical Concepts in Social History with Professor Webb Keane

Book Review of ‘Quantum Mind and Social Science: Unifying Physical and Social Ontology’ by Professor Douglas Porpora

29th January 201617th March 2022
Scholar Spotlight, Theoretical Reflections

Guest book review by Professor Douglas Porpora Douglas Porpora is a Professor of Sociology in the Department of Anthropology at Drexel University. His book, Reconstructing Sociology: The Critical Realist Approach, explores the implications of critical realism for American sociology. He… Read More »Book Review of ‘Quantum Mind and Social Science: Unifying Physical and Social Ontology’ by Professor Douglas Porpora

Interview with Professor Christian Smith on CR & Human Flourishing

15th January 201610th October 2022
Scholar Spotlight

Why does sociology need to do ontology? Why should we be concerned with persons? In this interview, Chris Smith addresses these issues and more, arguing for critical realism as a robust metatheory which enables us to own up to our commitments… Read More »Interview with Professor Christian Smith on CR & Human Flourishing

Interview with Professor Doug Porpora on Critical Realism and Contemporary Sociology (2015)

23rd November 201510th October 2022
Scholar Spotlight

Dr. Timothy Rutzou (Sociology, Yale University) interviews Professor Douglas Porpora (Drexel University) about critical realism, contemporary sociology, and the need for theory.

Remembering Roy Bhaskar 1944 – 2014

11th July 201510th October 2022
Scholar Spotlight, Theoretical Reflections

In November 2014 Roy Bhaskar, whose work helped to crystalize the movement of critical realists, passed away. As a way of remembering him, his theoretical work, and his contribution to this project we would like to take a moment to… Read More »Remembering Roy Bhaskar 1944 – 2014