Tony Lawson – författare

What do sociologists mean when they talk about 'crime' and 'deviance'? Can we use theory to explain why individuals break the law? And how do we measure criminal behaviour in modern society? This book uses key concepts and essential theory to explore these questions and explain their answers.The second edition of this student-focused text continues to offer clear and structured guidance on the sociology of crime and deviance. With basic definitions and clear analysis of theory and statistics, this book gives its reader the tools to build their knowledge and understanding of the topic. In particular, this text:- Explores and critiques essential sociological theory, including functionalist, feminist and postmodernist debates.- Examines how criminal justice data and crime statistics are compiled- Questions the reliability of social patterns of crime in terms of gender, class, age and ethnicity- Looks at new types of crime - from surveillance to terrorism and green crime to state crime As part of the Skills-Based Sociology series, this new edition of Crime and Deviance is packed with a variety of tasks, activities and exam practice questions. These encourage students to take an active role in their learning, whilst promoting critical thinking alongside skill development. This book is the perfect starting point for students keen to understand the sociology of crime and deviance, as well as an excellent source for revision.

Building on the popular 1st edition, this book examines the sociology of education in Britain today. Informed by recent debates and research, it outlines new social policy and explains relevant theory. With updated chapters and contemporary examples, it is packed with skills-based activities to develop students' understanding of the topic.

Religion, belief and faith influence many areas of all our lives, whether we follow a particular doctrine or not. But are people becoming less religious in the modern age? Is religion a social construction? And what do key sociological theorists say about religion?This book examines the sociology of religion. Looking at belief systems around the world, the text questions and explores changing attitudes to religion, alongside issues such as secularization, fundamentalism and globalization. In particular, this text:- Explores contemporary and classic theory- Describes key practices and beliefs of particular faith groups- Investigates social characteristics associated with religious belief and participation- Discusses various approaches to the organisation of religion, from traditional institutions to sects and cults.Part of the successful Skills-Based Sociology series, Religion and Belief provides readers with the opportunity to build their knowledge whilst putting their understanding into practice. The book's clear structure, helpful exercises and exam guidance make this an invaluable resource for students new to the study of religion in society.

Introductory Sociology is one of the most ambitious, scholarly and popular textbooks in its field. This welcome new edition builds on the strengths of its predecessor in its thematic coherence, clarity of exposition and analytical depth. It is carefully structured to cover all the main substantive topics studied at an introductory level within a framework that engages with exciting contemporary debates about modernity, globalisation and social identity.Key features of the new edition include:- A completely new chapter on the media- Extended coverage of social divisions to include disability, youth and old age as well as class, gender and race- Clearer and more compact treatment of social theory, incorporating discussion of work by such contemporary theorists as Habermas, Giddens and Beck- An even stronger blend of theoretical, empirical and illustrative material, consolidating the critical and applied approach that is one of the text's most well-liked defining featuresWith outstanding presentation and pedagogical support for the student and hard-pressed lecturer alike, the text includes:- An Instructor's Resource Pack, complete with powerpoint slides, available on the Palgrave website (or in hardcopy for adopters of the textbook, by written request)- A detailed and extensive glossary - practically a 'mini dictionary' of sociology in its own right and an ideal reference tool- chapter-specific further reading lists, annotated for further guidance and support- Questions to think about, which can be used as the basis for essays, class discussion and further study- Pictures, figures, graphs and tables

The social sciences often fail to examine in any systematic way the nature of their subject matter. Demonstrating that this is a central explanation of the widely acknowledged failings of the social sciences, not least of modern economics, this book sets about rectifying matters. Providing an account of the nature of social material in general, as well as of the specific natures of central components of the modern world, such as money and the corporation, Lawson also considers the implications of this theory regarding possibilities for social change. Readers will gain an understanding of how social phenomena, from tables and chairs, to money and firms, and nurses and Presidents are constituted. Fundamental to Lawson’s conception is a theory of community-based social positioning, whereby people and things within a community become constituted as components of emergent totalities, with actions governed by the rights and obligations of relevant members of the community. This theory isolates a set of basic principles that will offer the reader an understanding of the natures of all social phenomena. The Nature of Social Reality is for all those, academics and non-academics alike, who wish to gain a grasp on the nature of social phenomena that goes beyond the superficial.

The social sciences often fail to examine in any systematic way the nature of their subject matter. Demonstrating that this is a central explanation of the widely acknowledged failings of the social sciences, not least of modern economics, this book sets about rectifying matters. Providing an account of the nature of social material in general, as well as of the specific natures of central components of the modern world, such as money and the corporation, Lawson also considers the implications of this theory regarding possibilities for social change. Readers will gain an understanding of how social phenomena, from tables and chairs, to money and firms, and nurses and Presidents are constituted. Fundamental to Lawson’s conception is a theory of community-based social positioning, whereby people and things within a community become constituted as components of emergent totalities, with actions governed by the rights and obligations of relevant members of the community. This theory isolates a set of basic principles that will offer the reader an understanding of the natures of all social phenomena. The Nature of Social Reality is for all those, academics and non-academics alike, who wish to gain a grasp on the nature of social phenomena that goes beyond the superficial.

'No reality please. We're economists'. There is a wide spread belief that modern economics is irrelevant to the understanding of the real world. In a controversial and original study, Tony Lawson argues that the root of this irrelevance is in the failure of economists to find methods and tools which are appropriate for the social world it addresses.Supporting his argument with a wide range of examples, Tony Lawson offers a provocative account of why economics has gone wrong and how it can be put back on track.

'No reality please. We're economists'. There is a wide spread belief that modern economics is irrelevant to the understanding of the real world. In a controversial and original study, Tony Lawson argues that the root of this irrelevance is in the failure of economists to find methods and tools which are appropriate for the social world it addresses.Supporting his argument with a wide range of examples, Tony Lawson offers a provocative account of why economics has gone wrong and how it can be put back on track.

This book presents essential key readings to stimulate debate about and within critical realism. It explores transcendental realist philosophy of science, critical naturalist philosophy of social science, the theory of explanatory critique, and dialectic critique.

Critical realism is a movement in philosophy and the human sciences most closely associated with the work of Roy Bhaskar. Since the publication of Bhaskars A Realist Theory of Science, critical realism has had a profound influence on a wide range of subjects. This reader makes accessible, in one volume, key readings to stimulate debate about and within critical realism. It explores the following themes:* transcendental realist* the theory of explanatory critique* dialectics* Bhaskar's critical naturalist philosophy of science.

Contemporary economics is characterized by a mismatch between its methods of analysis and the nature of the world it seeks to interpret. Despite regular economic crises and ongoing critique of the discipline, the drift from political economy into applied mathematics appears to continue unabated. In this book, Tony Lawson advocates a relignment of economics with social reality.In analyzing mainstream economists' misplaced universality, the author places ontology at the heart of a reoriented future in which economics is integrated within the wider human and social sciences.

Contemporary economics is characterized by a mismatch between its methods of analysis and the nature of the world it seeks to interpret. Despite regular economic crises and ongoing critique of the discipline, the drift from political economy into applied mathematics appears to continue unabated. In this book, Tony Lawson advocates a relignment of economics with social reality.In analyzing mainstream economists' misplaced universality, the author places ontology at the heart of a reoriented future in which economics is integrated within the wider human and social sciences.

First published in 1985, this title includes contributions from leading economists and addresses many seminal aspects of Keynes' work and methods. This revival will be of particular interest to lecturers and advanced students of economics.

First published in 1985, this title includes contributions from leading economists and addresses many seminal aspects of Keynes' work and methods. This revival will be of particular interest to lecturers and advanced students of economics.

Critical realism is a movement in philosophy and the human sciences most closely associated with the work of Roy Bhaskar. Since the publication of Bhaskars A Realist Theory of Science, critical realism has had a profound influence on a wide range of subjects. This reader makes accessible, in one volume, key readings to stimulate debate about and within critical realism. It explores the following themes:* transcendental realist* the theory of explanatory critique* dialectics* Bhaskar's critical naturalist philosophy of science.

What do modern academic economists do? What currently is mainstream economics? What is neoclassical economics? And how about heterodox economics? How do the central concerns of modern economists, whatever their associations or allegiances, relate to those traditionally taken up in the discipline? And how did economics arrive at its current state? These and various cognate questions and concerns are systematically pursued in this new book by Tony Lawson. The result is a collection of previously published and new papers distinguished in providing the only comprehensive and coherent account of these issues currently available. The financial crisis has not only revealed weaknesses of the capitalist economy but also highlighted just how limited and impoverished is modern academic economics. Despite the failings of the latter being more widely acknowledged now than ever, there is still an enormous amount of confusion about their source and true nature. In this collection, Tony Lawson also identifies the causes of the discipline’s failings and outlines a transformative solution to its deficiencies.Amongst other things, Lawson advocates for the adoption of a more historical and philosophical orientation to the study of economics, one that deemphasizes the current focus on mathematical modelling while maintaining a high level of analytical rigour. In so doing Lawson argues for a return to long term systematic and sustained projects, in the manner pursued by the likes of Marx, Veblen, Hayek and Keynes, concerned first and foremost with advancing our understanding of social reality.Overall, this forceful and persuasive collection represents a major intervention in the on-going debates about the nature, state and future direction of economics.

What do modern academic economists do? What currently is mainstream economics? What is neoclassical economics? And how about heterodox economics? How do the central concerns of modern economists, whatever their associations or allegiances, relate to those traditionally taken up in the discipline? And how did economics arrive at its current state? These and various cognate questions and concerns are systematically pursued in this new book by Tony Lawson. The result is a collection of previously published and new papers distinguished in providing the only comprehensive and coherent account of these issues currently available. The financial crisis has not only revealed weaknesses of the capitalist economy but also highlighted just how limited and impoverished is modern academic economics. Despite the failings of the latter being more widely acknowledged now than ever, there is still an enormous amount of confusion about their source and true nature. In this collection, Tony Lawson also identifies the causes of the discipline’s failings and outlines a transformative solution to its deficiencies.Amongst other things, Lawson advocates for the adoption of a more historical and philosophical orientation to the study of economics, one that deemphasizes the current focus on mathematical modelling while maintaining a high level of analytical rigour. In so doing Lawson argues for a return to long term systematic and sustained projects, in the manner pursued by the likes of Marx, Veblen, Hayek and Keynes, concerned first and foremost with advancing our understanding of social reality.Overall, this forceful and persuasive collection represents a major intervention in the on-going debates about the nature, state and future direction of economics.