Big Ideas in Social Science

David Edmonds is a Distinguished Research Fellow at the Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics at Oxford University and a former BBC radio journalist.  He is the author or editor of many philosophy books (and one on chess) which together have been translated into over two dozen languages.  These include (with John Eidinow), Wittgenstein’s Poker and, most recently, a biography, Parfit: A Philosopher and his Mission to Save Morality.  As well as Social Science Bites, David also hosts a couple of philosophy podcasts. Philosophy Bites, which he makes with Nigel Warburton, has had over 47 million downloads. Nigel Warburton is a freelance philosopher, podcaster and writer, described by Julian Baggini as ′one of the most-read popular philosophers of our time′. He is the interviewer for the popular Philosophy Bites podcast which he makes with David Edmonds and which has been downloaded over 28 million times is also the co-producer of the Social Science Bites podcast and co-edited the book Big Ideas in Social Science (SAGE) that was based on this series. He was previously Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at the Open University and Lecturer in Philosophy at Nottingham University. He regularly teaches courses on aesthetics at Tate Modern.

This useful book is packed with insights which will excite the curiosity of the general public, academics and new researchers... each chapter and the additional readings therein will undoubtedly energize readers interested in the subject of the chapter. The book provides multiple perspectives in showing how social science helps us understand how society operates and information to influence politicians to address societal issues.

• Foreword - David Edmonds & Nigel WarburtonSECTION ONE: FIELDS OF ENQUIRYRom Harré on What is Social Science - Rom HarréToby Miller on Cultural Studies - Toby MillerLawrence Sherman on Criminology - Lawrence ShermanJonathan Haidt on Moral Psychology - Jonathan HaidtRobert J. Shiller on Behavioural Economics - Robert J. ShillerSECTION TWO: BIRTHS, DEATHS & HUMAN POPULATIONSarah Franklin on the Sociology of Reproductive Technology - Sarah FranklinAnn Oakley on Women’s Experience of Childbirth - Ann OakleySarah Harper on the Population Challenge for the 21st Century - Sarah HarperStephen Pinker on Violence and Human Nature - Stephen PinkerSECTION THREE: SOCIAL SCIENCE THROUGH DIFFERENT LENSESGreg Clark on Names - Greg ClarkRobin Dunbar on Dunbar Numbers - Robin DunbarDavid Goldblatt on the Sociology of Football - David GoldblattTrevor Marchand on Craft - Trevor MarchandBruce Hood on the Supernatural - Bruce HoodDoreen Massey on Space - Doreen MasseySECTION FOUR: POLITICS AND SOCIAL SCIENCECraig Calhoun on Protest Movements - Craig CalhounDanny Dorling on Inequality - Danny DorlingKate Pickett on the Case for Equality - Kate Pickett