Individualism in Social Science

'this book is one of the most accomplished works critiquing Methodological Individualism that has appeared anywhere ... the book will deservedly establish a major international reputation for the author ... Setting such a high standard, however, can be both rewarding and frustrating. Rewarding in obvious ways and frustrating because mediocrity is rarely comfortable recognising excellence.'Achin Vanaik, Indian Express, May 1993

• Introduction; Part 1. Methodological individualism; Forms of methodological individualism; Part 2. The limits of explanatory individualism; Methodological individualism as a form of reductionism; Methodological individualism and the D-N model; Methodological individualism : intentionalism; Part 3. The limits of ontological individualism; The social dimension of meaning; The non-individualist challenge: contextualism