Franco Ferrarotti turns his considerable erudition and insight to issues of theory and method in the human sciences, arguing that sociological investigations have been limited by their preoccupation with quantitative methods of investigation. Crucial social problems, from drug addiction to terrorism, can best be addressed by rediscovering autobiographical materials and the value of the individual. Ferrarotti hopes to lead sociologists away from overly reductionistic, technical measurement of their subjects_an approach that has increasingly been problematized by the natural sciences_toward an examination of the domain of lived experience using methods that are both interpretive and historical.
Franco Ferrarotti turns his considerable erudition and insight to issues of theory and method in the human sciences, arguing that sociological investigations have been limited by their preoccupation with quantitative methods of investigation. Crucial social problems, from drug addiction to terrorism, can best be addressed by rediscovering autobiographical materials and the value of the individual. Ferrarotti hopes to lead sociologists away from overly reductionistic, technical measurement of their subjects_an approach that has increasingly been problematized by the natural sciences_toward an examination of the domain of lived experience using methods that are both interpretive and historical.
Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 A Sociological Methodology as the Technique of Listening Chapter 3 The Quality of the Everyday and the Practice of Life Chapter 4 Biography as Interaction Chapter 5 The Social Nature of the Individual 6 The Symmetrical Limits of Naturalistic Objectivism and Psychologism Chapter 7 The Specificity of the Biographic Method: From Naturalistic Social Research to "Joint" Research
Franco Ferrarotti is Professor of Sociology and Director of the Doctoral Program at the University of Rome. He is the editor of La Critica Sociologica.
Ferrarotti brings to life C. Wright Mills's project of linking the
"personal troubles of milieu" with "public issues." Chapter by
chapter the "life history" method is shown to link biography to
history and to social institutions. As works in qualitative methods
have gained ground in recent decades, Ferrarotti's important
contribution to these discussions is to locate biographical methods
of study within the broader context of sociological understanding
and hermeneutics. His concept of "mediations" will be used by
researchers for years to come.
*Arthur J. Vidich, Professor Emeritus of Sociology and
Anthropology, New School University*
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