Controversies in Sociology SOCIAL THEORY AND POLITICAL PRACTICE Dy Brian Fay UNDERSTANDING SOCIAL LIFE by William Our waite SOCIALISM: THE ACTIVE UTOPIA by Zvgonunt Bauman DILEMMAS OF DISCOURSE Coniraversies about the Sociological Inexpretation of Language by Anthony Wootton SOCIAL EVOLUTION AND SOCIOLOGICAL CATEGORIES by Poul Q. Hirsi ‘THE LIBERATION OF WOMEN A Study of Patriarchy and Capitals by Roberta Hamilton MARX AND THE END OF ORIENTALISM bby Bryan 8, Turner SCIENCE AND THE by Michael Muikay SOCIOLOGY OF KNOWLEDGE INTELLECTUALS AND POLITICS by Robert J. Brym 10 SOCIOLOGY AND HISTORY by Peter Burke A THUD WORLD PROLETARIAT? by Peter Lioved MAX WEBER AND KARL MARX by Karl Lowith Edited with an Introduction by Tom Bottomore and Willan Outhwaite Positivism and Sociology: Explaining Social Life PETER HALFPENNY University of Manchester London GEORGE ALLEN & UNWIN 19321 Peter Halfpenny, 1982 ‘This book is copyright ner the Remne Convention, No reprodution Without permission, A rights reserad Contents George Allen & Unmin (Publishers) Lad, 40 Museum Street, Landon WCTA ILL, UK Lane, Halonen, Hts M2 ATE, UK Acknowledgements paxe 9 ‘len & Uni, : 3 inner Teas, Winches, Mass. O90, USA Introduction ; n George Allen & Unwin Australia Pty 1 Comte and the Early Period 3 8 Napier Strect, North Sydney, NSW 2060, Australia, 2 Statistics ray 3 Logical Positivism: 46 lope in 1982 4 Lawsand Explanation e | 5 Theory and Evidence a7 Conclusion M4 bee of Congres Catalog In Pati Dat i tece . apes, Par ie im Positivism and sociology (Constroversice in sociology 113) Biblosrapby: p. Sociology Mistry, 2. Positivism. 3, Sacilogy- Methndotogy L Tide, Serie, HMig ais 1982." 20182 11898 ISAN GS 20H0se 2 ISBN 0 08 ARS | (pbk) 12 point Times by Typeseters (Birmingham) Ltd fon and WorcesterAcknowledgements 1 have learned much from Isabel Emmett, Len Gill, Keekok Imber, Richard Whitley, Philippe Van Parijs and especially Daphne Taylorson, who all read and offered me comments on the draft, and'I thank them for their time and interest. I am grateful too 10 Tom Bottomore and Mike Mulkay for their encouragement and advice, and to Jeanne Ashton, Tricia Pygott, Janice Hammond and Hilary Thornber for their excellent typing,