Renascent Pragmatism Studies in Law and Social Science

Pragmatism is experiencing a resurgence in law, philosophy and social science, with pragmatists seeking a consistent, comprehensive and productive understanding of social life. In its four sections Renascent Pragmatism aids the reinvigoration of pragmatism as an important intellectual tradition and contributor to inquiry and change in social life. The book is a first of its kind for combining essays on theory, method, public policy and empirical scholarship, presenting contributions from philosophers, legal scholars and social scientists. Throughout the book, the concrete linkage between policy, theory and method is emphasized, while recognizing the philosophical tradition in which the inquiries and prescriptions rest.

Contents: Pragmatic Philosophy on Social, Legal, and Scholarly Practice: The 'Democracy of Self-Devotion': Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., and pragmatism, William G. Weaver; The dilemma of democracy: diversity of interests and common experiences, Charlene Haddock Seigfried; A pragmatic response to the embarrassing problems of ideology critique in socio-legal studies, Brian Z. Tamanaha; Pragmatic legal norms, Murray J. Leaf. Updating Pragmatist Informed Methods of Inquiry: Ethnography and pragmatism, Murray J. Leaf; The mathematical metaphysics of measurement and metrology: towards meaningful quantification in the human sciences, William P. Fisher Jr. Pragmatists' Perspectives on Policy and Politics: The pragmatic policy analyst, Anne Larason Schneider and Helen Ingram; Does consensus work? A pragmatic approach to public participation in the regulatory process, Cary Coglianese. Empirical Studies from Pragmatist Perspectives: A pragmatist theory of social movement leadership, Alfonso Morales and Robert R. Jimenez, Public interest lawyering and the pragmatist dilemma, Peter Margulies; Index.

Alfonso Morales, Dr, Assistant Professor, Sociology and Anthropology, University of Texas at El Paso, USA