Society and the social sciencs : an introduction / edited by David Potter...[et al]

Rarely are the really important and interesting questions about the nature of society the preserve of anyone of the social sciences. Designed initially as the Reader for the Open University Foundation Course in the Social Sciences, this book tackles one of the most fundamental issues: How does modem capitalist society manage to hold together while in a state of constant change?
The readings take an interdisciplinary approach to show how studies in economics, geography, political sciences, psychology' and sociology can work together to deal with the basic themes of social change and continuity, social structure and individual agency, institutional relationships within British society, and social divisions. The social sciences share another feature, in that they are all multi-theoretical and characterized by major philosophical disputes. The editors have provided material on the nature of disagreement and the origins of ideology, and on the three competing positions - individualist, pluralist and marxist. Several
stimulating and illuminating articles have been specially commissioned. This interdisciplinary and multi-theoretical approach is becoming more widespread and prominent, in both teaching and research. Society and the Social Sciences will be a valuable textbook for university and college introductory courses to the social sciences.