Sociological metatheorising in the 1980s and 1990s: Philosophical aspects of some alternatives to the positivist specification

Abstract

The paper provides a retrospective overview of metatheoretical research unfolding in the 1980s and 1990s. Philosophical aspects of some alternatives to the positivist specification have been analysed. Particular attention has been given to the interpretation of sociological metatheorising as the philosophy of social science (B.Fay). The next step is identification of characteristics related to the conception of metasociology as a dialogue with other social sciences, as well as with political and moral conversations about the social world. This conception was put forward by E.Fuhrman and W.Snizek. The author has also summarised S. Fuchs’s works that describe, compare and analyse cognitive styles of metatheorising in sociology.