Are human beings less violent than before? Why do we adopt certain moral and political judgements? Why is the gap between rich and poor getting bigger? How do we decide which criminal policies are effective? What is the Population Challenge for the 21st Century? What is social science? In Big Ideas in Social Science, David Edmonds and Nigel Warburton put these and more of our society's burning questions to 18 of the world's leading social scientists including Steven Pinker, Ann Oakley, Lawrence Sherman, Kate Pickett, Robert J. Shiller and Doreen Massey. The result is a collection of thought-provoking discussions that span the fields of sociology, politics, economics, criminology, geography and many more.From the people who brought us the Philosophy Bites series, Big Ideas in Social Science is a fascinating and accessible introduction to the key ideas and findings of the social sciences. The interviews for this book are based on a series of podcasts, Social Science Bites, sponsored by SAGE. Social Science Bites was inspired by the popular Philosophy Bites podcast (www.philosophybites.com), which was founded by David and Nigel in 2007 and has so far had 26 million downloads. Philosophy Bites has spawned three books, Philosophy Bites, Philosophy Bites Back and Philosophy Bites Again.
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.
Foreword - David Edmonds & Nigel Warburton SECTION ONE: FIELDS OF ENQUIRY Rom Harre on What is Social Science - Rom Harre Toby Miller on Cultural Studies - Toby Miller Lawrence Sherman on Criminology - Lawrence Sherman Jonathan Haidt on Moral Psychology - Jonathan Haidt Robert J. Shiller on Behavioural Economics - Robert J. Shiller SECTION TWO: BIRTHS, DEATHS & HUMAN POPULATION Sarah Franklin on the Sociology of Reproductive Technology - Sarah Franklin Ann Oakley on Women's Experience of Childbirth - Ann Oakley Sarah Harper on the Population Challenge for the 21st Century - Sarah Harper Stephen Pinker on Violence and Human Nature - Stephen Pinker SECTION THREE: SOCIAL SCIENCE THROUGH DIFFERENT LENSES Greg Clark on Names - Greg Clark Robin Dunbar on Dunbar Numbers - Robin Dunbar David Goldblatt on the Sociology of Football - David Goldblatt Trevor Marchand on Craft - Trevor Marchand Bruce Hood on the Supernatural - Bruce Hood Doreen Massey on Space - Doreen Massey SECTION FOUR: POLITICS AND SOCIAL SCIENCE Craig Calhoun on Protest Movements - Craig Calhoun Danny Dorling on Inequality - Danny Dorling Kate Pickett on the Case for Equality - Kate Pickett
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. -- Mel D'Souza
