Critical realism attempts to take seriously the nature of scientific inquiry as a human enterprise with all the complexities that entails while still affirming that science is a source of genuine knowledge through which we can progress in our understanding of the world. But what exactly does critical realism say about the social sciences and can it successfully navigate a course between positivism and idealism? What difference does the philosophy of science make for the actual practice of sociological inquiry?

Lunch will be provided. Spaces are limited; those wishing to attend should RSVP here.

Philip Gorski is Professor of Sociology at Yale University.