Wittgenstein and Society

A Social Researcher Philosophises

AvGavin Kitching

Inbunden, Engelska, 2026

Del i serien Philosophy and Method in the Social Sciences

2 551 kr

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Building on the success of Wittgenstein and Society: Essays in Conceptual Puzzlement (2003), this freshly conceptualised second edition offers a unique perspective on Wittgenstein’s later philosophy by examining its implications through the lens of empirical social research.Gavin Kitching, an experienced social researcher, explores how the study of language use in Kenya, Russia, and the North-East of England deepens our understanding of Wittgenstein’s famous assertion that “the meaning of a word is its use in the language.” By reversing the traditional approach, the book highlights how social research can inform philosophical ideas, rather than the other way around. The book is divided into three parts. Part One introduces Wittgenstein’s philosophy and critiques postmodernist thought. Part Two delves into Kitching’s empirical research, focusing on key concepts such as ‘class,’ ‘peasant,’ ‘production cost,’ and ‘football,’ and their philosophical implications. Part Three reflects on the broader significance of Wittgenstein’s ideas, emphasizing the richness and complexity of ordinary language use.Utilising a unique interdisciplinary approach, which bridges philosophy and social science in a way that challenges conventional academic boundaries, it will be an essential resource for scholars, advanced undergraduate students and postgraduate students in philosophy, sociology, social anthropology, and history, with interests in Wittgenstein’s philosophy and its practical applications in social research.

Produktinformation

Utgivningsdatum:2026-11-03
Mått:156 x 234 x undefined mm
Format:Inbunden
Språk:Engelska
Serie:Philosophy and Method in the Social Sciences
Antal sidor:198
Upplaga:2
Förlag:Taylor & Francis Ltd
ISBN:9781041360957

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Gavin Kitching is Emeritus Professor of Politics and International Relations at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. He has undertaken field research in East Africa and Russia and has written about the history of football in the UK and Australia. He also has a long-time interest in the philosophy of Ludwig Wittgenstein.

Recensioner i media

‘This is much more than a second edition. Social scientists and philosophers stand to benefit from the wisdom the author brings to the consideration of empirical research and conceptual elucidation. Kitching’s presence in the book as a real, flesh and blood person constitutes a powerful antidote to the pull of scientism.’Dr Leonidas Tsilipakos, University of Bristol, UK.‘…A remarkable, thought-provoking book. It is at once an intellectual autobiography, and an account of the importance of Wittgenstein’s philosophy of language. Its call for the possibility of an ethical, self-reflective approach to studying the human is of vital importance today.’Professor David Macarthur, The University of Sydney, Australia.‘Gavin Kitching is unique in being an accomplished Wittgensteinian philosopher and an equally accomplished social scientist (in economics, history, politics, and political anthropology). The second edition of Wittgenstein and Society fits squarely within the Winchian / Wittgensteinian tradition of critical reflection on the very ‘idea of a social science’Dr Nigel Pleasants, University of Exeter, UK.

Innehållsförteckning

Part One: Philosophy of Social Science 1. A Structuralist Marxist Meets the Later Wittgenstein (1984) 2. Writing About People (1984) 3. Tangents: Marx, Wittgenstein and Postmodernism (2000) Part Two: Social Science and Philosophy 4. Kenya Book Excerpt (1980) 5. Commentary on Kenya Book Excerpt (2026) 6. Russian Research Excerpts (1998 and 2001) 7. Commentary on Russian Research Excerpts (2026) 8. ‘Football Debate’ Article (2011) 9. Commentary on ‘Football Debate’ Article (2026) Part Three: Reflections: Philosophical and Non-Philosophical 10. A Social ‘Scientist’ and Ludwig Wittgenstein (2026)