ABSTRACT

Groff defends 'realism about causality' through close discussions of Kant, Hilary Putnam, Brian Ellis and Charles Taylor, among others. In so doing she affirms critical realism, but with several important qualifications. In particular, she rejects the theory of truth advanced by Roy Bhaskar. She also attempts to both clarify and correct earlier critical realist attempts to apply realism about causality to the social sciences.
By connecting issues in metaphysics and philosophy of science to the problem of relativism, Groff bridges the gap between the philosophical literature and broader debates surrounding socio-political theory and poststructuralist thought. This unique approach will make the book of interest to philosophers and socio-political theorists alike.

chapter |23 pages

1 Introduction

Relativism, anti-realism and causality

chapter |20 pages

2 On the necessity of necessary connections

Critical realism and Kant's transcendental idealism

chapter |25 pages

3 Natural kinds

Critical realism and Putnam's internal realism

chapter |28 pages

4 Alethic truth 164

chapter |35 pages

5 Recovering Aristotle

Realism about causality and the social sciences

chapter |8 pages

6 Conclusion

Critical realism and the post-positivist quagmire