ABSTRACT
This chapter begins by defending the value of a humanistic conception of sociological knowledge against both old and new critics. It argues that whilst sociologists might assess matters of coherence and justification, they have no equivalent way of knowing whether they hold some eternal knowledge about the world. The chapter tries to take this critique further by showing how such dogmatic assertions of ultimate truth on social matters not only threaten the development of knowledge but also endanger liberal politics more generally. It is therefore important to look further into whether Rorty's politics is in fact a logical outcome of adopting as was recommended in this chapter a humanistic account of knowledge and truth. The chapter issues warnings against adopting a metaphysics of realism and defended a humanistic account of sociological knowledge against some of its most common criticisms.
