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Critical Realism as Relational Sociology

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The Palgrave Handbook of Relational Sociology

Abstract

This chapter situates critical realism (CR) vis-à-vis relational sociology. CR is not exactly a form of relational sociology if only because it is more an underlying philosophy than sociology specifically. The chapter goes on to talk about what is common to and different about CR in relation to relational sociology. Born of progressive and even Marxian sources, CR definitely takes a relational approach to social phenomena, but as its name implies it also tends to be more realist than much relational sociology and more affirmative of substances, structures, and humanism than many forms of relational sociology. The chapter also presents a rather sharp defense of these positions against the counterpositions more associated with relational sociology.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Douglas V. Porpora

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  1. Douglas V. Porpora
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada

    François Dépelteau

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Porpora, D.V. (2018). Critical Realism as Relational Sociology. In: Dépelteau, F. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Relational Sociology. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-66005-9_21

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-66005-9_21

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-66004-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-66005-9

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

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