Ideas Roadshow Conversations: How Social Science Creates the World - A Conversation with Mark Bevir

This book is based on an in-depth conversation with UC Berkeley political scientist Mark Bevir, who is an internationally acclaimed expert in the theory of governance. This conversation explores how attempts to shoehorn political science into a natural science framework commonly fail and how correctly appreciating what social science is and does has a direct bearing on our everyday social lives. By adopting the false belief that the social world is composed of some unchanging, fundamental entities on par with atoms or molecules—be they markets or classes or what have you—we will have no means of recognizing, or even describing, what happens when circumstances change and a new social dynamic is created. This carefully-edited book includes a detailed introduction, questions for discussion at the end of each chapter and connections with other books in the Ideas Roadshow Conversations series. ABOUT IDEAS ROADSHOW CONVERSATIONS: Ideas Roadshow Conversations present a wealth of candid insights from leading experts through a focused yet informal setting. Presented in an engaging conversational format, these books not only explore cutting-edge academic research, but also reveal the inspirations and personal journeys behind the research. They are explicitly designed to provide a unique window into frontline research and scholarship that wouldn't otherwise be experienced through standard lectures and textbooks. Howard Burton holds a PhD in theoretical physics and an MA in philosophy and was the Founding Director of Canada's Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics. This book is based on an in-depth conversation between Howard Burton and Mark Bevir, Professor of Political Science and Director of the Center for British Studies at UC Berkeley. Mark Bevir is an internationally acclaimed expert in the theory of governance. This thought-provoking discussion explores how attempts to shoehorn political science into a natural science framework are bound to fail and how correctly appreciating what social science is and does has a direct bearing on our everyday social lives. By adopting the false belief that the social world is composed of some unchanging, fundamental entities on par with atoms or molecules—be they markets or classes or what have you—we will have no means of recognizing, or even describing, what happens when circumstances change and a new social dynamic is created. This carefully-edited book includes an introduction, One of a Kind, and questions for discussion at the end of each chapter: Creating a Political Philosopher - From mathematics to social science The Power of Philosophy - How to change the world What is Political Science, Anyway? - Science vs. interpretation Knowing One's Limits - Distinguishing heuristic utility from a scientific truth Missing the Boat - Beyond outdated dichotomies Networks - What they are and how they arose Analyzing Governance - How social science makes the world The Mechanisms of Influence - Investigating social traction From Theory to Practice - Appreciating a mix of strategies Doing Things Better - The importance of listening Starting Over - A lone wolf takes charge, at least theoretically Going Global - Encouraging pluralism and open patterns About Ideas Roadshow Conversations Series (100 books): Presented in an accessible, conversational format, Ideas Roadshow books not only explore frontline academic research featuring world-leading researchers, including 3 Nobel Laureates, but also reveal the inspirations and personal journeys behind the research. Howard Burton holds a PhD in physics and an MA in philosophy, and was the Founding Director of Canada's Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics.

This book is based on an in-depth filmed conversation between Howard Burton and UC Berkeley political scientist Professor Mark Bevir, who is an internationally acclaimed expert in the theory of governance. This thought-provoking conversation explores how attempts to shoehorn political science into a natural science framework commonly fail and how correctly appreciating what social science is and does has a direct bearing on our everyday social lives. By adopting the false belief that the social world is composed of some unchanging, fundamental entities on par with atoms or molecules—be they markets or classes or what have you—we will have no means of recognizing, or even describing, what happens when circumstances change and a new social dynamic is created.This carefully-edited book includes an introduction, One of a Kind, and questions for discussion at the end of each chapter: I. Creating a Political Philosopher - From mathematics to social scienceII. The Power of Philosophy - How to change the worldIII. What is Political Science, Anyway? - Science vs. interpretationIV. Knowing One's Limits - Distinguishing heuristic utility from a scientific truthV. Missing the Boat - Beyond outdated dichotomiesVI. Networks - What they are and how they aroseVII. Analyzing Governance - How social science makes the worldVIII. The Mechanisms of Influence - Investigating social tractionIX. From Theory to Practice - Appreciating a mix of strategiesX. Doing Things Better - The importance of listeningXI. Starting Over - A lone wolf takes charge, at least theoreticallyXII. Going Global - Encouraging pluralism and open patternsAbout Ideas Roadshow Conversations Series: This book is part of an expanding series of 100+ Ideas Roadshow conversations, each one presenting a wealth of candid insights from a leading expert in a focused yet informal setting to give non-specialists a uniquely accessible window into frontline research and scholarship that wouldn't otherwise be encountered through standard lectures and textbooks. For other books in this series visit our website: https://ideasroadshow.com/.