{"product_id":"the-art-of-social-theory-paperback","title":"The Art of Social Theory - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eRichard Swedberg\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA practical guide to the art of theorizing in the social sciences\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn the social sciences today, students are taught theory by reading and analyzing the works of Karl Marx, Max Weber, and other foundational figures of the discipline. What they rarely learn, however, is how to actually theorize. \u003ci\u003eThe Art of Social Theory\u003c\/i\u003e is a practical guide to doing just that. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn this one-of-a-kind user's manual for social theorists, Richard Swedberg explains how theorizing occurs in what he calls the context of discovery, a process in which the researcher gathers preliminary data and thinks creatively about it using tools such as metaphor, analogy, and typology. He guides readers through each step of the theorist's art, from observation and naming to concept formation and explanation. To theorize well, you also need a sound knowledge of existing social theory. Swedberg introduces readers to the most important theories and concepts, and discusses how to go about mastering them. If you can think, you can also learn to theorize. This book shows you how. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eConcise and accessible, \u003ci\u003eThe Art of Social Theory\u003c\/i\u003e features helpful examples throughout, and also provides practical exercises that enable readers to learn through doing.\u003ch3\u003eBack Jacket\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Who expected new ideas about 'the art of social theory, ' or even knew that it was an 'art'? Vintage Swedberg: wry and erudite yet engaging and accessible, drawing on philosophy, epistemology, and cognitive science to argue that though theorizing requires creativity and imagination, it can be effectively taught. Read this.\"\u003cb\u003e--Mark Granovetter, Stanford University\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"This is a book about how to go about theorizing in the social sciences. It speaks to graduate students preparing for a dissertation and, perhaps more, to their mentors. It is a perfect textbook for a graduate seminar, and offers a stimulating challenge to any social scientist who is curious about how his or her own 'art of theorizing' compares with Swedberg's. I've been a theoretical social scientist for more than half a century, and I was captivated.\"\u003cb\u003e--Thomas C. Schelling, winner of the Nobel Prize in economics\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Swedberg's book is a marvelous introduction to the craft of theorizing. This is no abstract primer. It describes how people actually go about theorizing and linking their theories to methods. By recognizing that we all theorize all of the time, Swedberg demystifies the process, making it accessible and exciting. \u003ci\u003eThe Art of Social Theory\u003c\/i\u003e is erudite and rich with historical allusion. It is a pleasure to read.\"\u003cb\u003e--Frank Dobbin, author of \u003ci\u003eInventing Equal Opportunity\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"A unique meditation on the meaning and purpose of theory and theorizing. By opening up to students how theorizing is an intellectual craft, Swedberg brings the subject alive in a direct and real way. \u003ci\u003eThe Art of Social Theory\u003c\/i\u003e will change how we teach theory and theorizing in sociology.\"\u003cb\u003e--Isaac Ariail Reed, author of \u003ci\u003eInterpretation and Social Knowledge: On the Use of Theory in the Human Sciences\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eRichard Swedberg is professor of sociology at Cornell University. His books include \"Tocqueville's Political Economy,\" \"Principles of Economic Sociology,\" and \"Max Weber and the Idea of Economic Sociology\" (all Princeton).\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 288\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.8 x 8.4 x 5.5 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e September 01, 2015\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42723357589567,"sku":"9780691168135","price":63.61,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0105\/8226\/1823\/files\/0f6931e34aa6b4d3d1cce03e30b3ef39.webp?v=1765098891","url":"https:\/\/dhlswag.com\/products\/the-art-of-social-theory-paperback","provider":"BBB","version":"1.0","type":"link"}