Reframing the Social

Rezensionen / Stimmen

'This is the clearest and most comprehensive discussion of contemporary social ontology. The author's definitions and illustrations of such key concepts as those of system, process, mechanism, and emergence, often used sloppily, are lucid. And his evaluation of the competing theories is magisterial. This book should greatly help any social theorists and philosophers seeking clarity and depth.' Mario Bunge, McGill University, Canada 'Poe Yu-ze Wan has produced an impressive book that brings social systems theory into the twenty-first century. In a beautifully well-judged argument that deserves to be widely read, he shows how social theorists are moving towards mechanismic explanation and "emergentist systemism" - and why they are right to do so.' Dave Elder-Vass, Loughborough University, UK 'Wan's intellectual achievement in this book stands out from comparable entries in the marketplace for at least two reasons. First, there is just the sheer amount of ground covered in the book... Second, there is the fact that Wan goes beyond reviewing other people's proposals to offer his own positive project... an impressive achievement. This book should be required reading for anybody interested in becoming acquainted with the best contemporary work on the meta-methodological foundations of social science, the debates and controversies opened up by advocates of the various programmatic movements that have emerged in the way of the dissolution of positivism, and Mario Bunge's equally ambitious - but rather unheralded - proposal to bring order to the proceedings.' Science and Education 'I recommend Reframing the Social: Emergentist Systemism and Social Theory to everyone interested in recent discussions not only on social systems theory and social ontology but also on causality and mechanism-based explanations in the social sciences. Moreover, I think that those social scientists and philosophers of the social sciences who associate themselves with the movement of