The Social World, Reexamined is based on an in-depth filmed conversation between Howard Burton and Brian Epstein, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Tufts University. Brian Epstein’s career as a management consultant piqued his interest and his later research into the reasons why our current models of economics, politics and other areas of social science so often go terribly wrong. The conversation explores how we can dramatically improve our current economic and political models by reexamining our assumptions about the nature of the social world.
This carefully-edited book includes an introduction, The Real World, and questions for discussion at the end of each chapter:
- Wondering About the World – A philosophical journey
- Empirical Influences – From management consultancy to metaphysics
- Unquestioned Assumptions – The cult of the individual
- Beyond Emergence – A Supreme Value
- Ontological Examinations – Grounding and anchoring
- Better Models – Beyond agent-based thinking
- Modelling Concerns – Fear of mushiness
- Getting Specific – Modelling corruption
- No, We Can’t – The impact of a small political gene pool
- Responses and Reactions – The good, the bad, and the ugly
- The Value of Breadth – Appreciating the humanities
- Learning Our Lessons? – Or perhaps not
- Applied Philosophy – The “social turn”
Available in electronic format on all major booksellers, including:
This book is also part of the five-part Ideas Roadshow Collection, Conversations About Philosophy, Volume 2, which is available in hardcover, paperback and electronic format.
Brian Epstein is also featured in 3 Ideas Roadshow documentary-style films together with several other renowned researchers. Available on Kanopy & Boclips.
