Words and distinctions for the common good : practical reason in the logic of social science

This book includes bibliographical references and an index.

First Act. 1. Sandwichness wars 2. The problem 3. Nine ways to decline 4. Technical FAQs 5. Two activities 6. Practical reason activities Second Act. 7. Word first 8. Activity WF and its discontents 9. Distinction first 10. Conversation starters (fragments, sketches, suggestions, doubts) 11. As a matter of fact Epilogue (so, will social scientists' never-ending disputes over words ever end?)

"In this book, Gabriel Abend argues that social scientists need to focus more on the words and distinctions that their empirical claims depend on. He suggests two central questions researchers need to consider. First, how should word "w" be used in the social science community? Which is to say, how should word "w" be defined, should it be used at all, and if so, on what grounds? Second, should distinction "d" be accepted in the social science community? For example, when a social scientist proposes a distinction between childhood, adolescence, adulthood and old age, should they be accepted and on what grounds? Which distinctions and classifications are good for the social science community? Throughout the chapters, Abend carefully investigates these core issues and related questions, arguing along the way that there is not a definitive answer. Instead, the book invites the social science community to work together to collectively address these consequential concerns"--