The Explanation of Social Action is a sustained critique of the conventional understanding of what it means to "explain" something in the social sciences. It makes the strong argument that the traditional understanding involves asking questions that have no clear foundation and provoke an unnecessary tension between lay and expert vocabularies. Drawing on the history and philos...(展开全部)

Conventional understanding of what it means to "explain" something in the social sciences provokes unnecessary confusion and conflict, and indeed is often based more on analysts' imaginations than actors' realities. The Explanation of Social Action lays out a sustained critique of this understanding, pointing out that the root of the problem is an attempt to counterpose two rad...(展开全部)

The Explanation of Social Action is a sustained critique of the conventional understanding of what it means to "explain" something in the social sciences. It makes the strong argument that the traditional understanding involves asking questions that have no clear foundation and provoke an unnecessary tension between lay and expert vocabularies. Drawing on the history and philos...(展开全部)

Conventional understanding of what it means to "explain" something in the social sciences provokes unnecessary confusion and conflict, and indeed is often based more on analysts' imaginations than actors' realities. The Explanation of Social Action lays out a sustained critique of this understanding, pointing out that the root of the problem is an attempt to counterpose two rad...(展开全部)

塔尔科特·帕森斯(Talcott Parsons，1902—1979）　美国社会学家。结构功能主义的代表人物。1902年12月13日生于美国科罗拉多州的斯普林斯 ，1979年5月8日卒于德国。1920年入美国阿默斯特学院学习，1924年获文学士学位。后赴欧洲，先在伦敦经济学院学习，复又转到海德堡大学研究经济学和社会学，1927年获博士学位。回国后一直在哈佛大学从事教学与理论研究工作。先任哈佛大学经济系讲师 ，从1931年开始在社会学系讲授社会学，1944年成为社会学教授，1946年出任社会关系系主任，1973年退休 。曾于1949年担任美国社会学会主席。

塔尔科特·帕森斯(Talcott Parsons，1902—1979）　美国社会学家。结构功能主义的代表人物。1902年12月13日生于美国科罗拉多州的斯普林斯 ，1979年5月8日卒于德国。1920年入美国阿默斯特学院学习，1924年获文学士学位。后赴欧洲，先在伦敦经济学院学习，复又转到海德堡大学研究经济学和社会学，1927年获博士学位。回国后一直在哈佛大学从事教学与理论研究工作。先任哈佛大学经济系讲师 ，从1931年开始在社会学系讲授社会学，1944年成为社会学教授，1946年出任社会关系系主任，1973年退休 。曾于1949年担任美国社会学会主席。

What forms of knowledge can social science claim to produce? Does it employ causal analysis, and if so what does this entail? What role should values play in the work of social scientists? These are the questions addressed in this book. They are closely interrelated, and the answers offered here challenge many currently prevailing assumptions. They carry implications both for r...(展开全部)

In Social Capital, first published in 2001, Nan Lin explains the importance of using social connections and social relations in achieving goals. Social capital, or resources accessed through such connections and relations, is critical (along with human capital, or what a person or organization actually possesses) to individuals, social groups, organizations, and communities in ...(展开全部)

In Social Capital, first published in 2001, Nan Lin explains the importance of using social connections and social relations in achieving goals. Social capital, or resources accessed through such connections and relations, is critical (along with human capital, or what a person or organization actually possesses) to individuals, social groups, organizations, and communities in ...(展开全部)

About the series The aim of this series is to bring together important recent writings in major areas of philosophical inquiry, selected from a variety of sources, mostly periodicals, which may not be conveniently available to the university student or the general reader. The editor of each volume contributes an introductory essay on the items chosen and on the questions with w...(展开全部)