Includes bibliographical references and index.

Preface to the second edition -- Introduction to the first edition - - Empiricism and positivism in science -- Some problems of empiricism a nd positivism -- Science, nature and society : some alternatives to emp iricism -- Interpretive approaches 1: instrumental rationality -- Inter pretive approaches 2: rationality as rule-following: cultures, traditio ns and hermeneutics -- Interpretive approaches 3: critical rationality -- Critical realism and the social sciences -- Feminism, knowledge, and society -- Post-structuralism and postmodernism -- Conclusion: in defe nce of philosophy -- Commentary on recent developments.