Abstract
In chapters 2 and 3 I have concentrated primarily on the epistemological context of realist knowledge claims. That is, I have dealt with such things as the origins, the scope, the nature and validity of knowledge produced under the auspices of realism. In this chapter, I want to begin to address some primarily ontological issues. In chapter 1 I suggested that the realist model (or models) of social ontology unnecessarily constricts the domain of legitimate explanation in the social sciences and as a consequence, narrows its explanatory scope. In chapter 5 I shall argue more generally for an extension of the model of social ontology and outline some specific recommendations. Here I shall concentrate on one particular ontological feature which does not appear in the realist scheme of things; that is, the notion of an implicate order.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 1990 Derek Layder
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Layder, D. (1990). Causality, Acausality and the Implicate Order. In: The Realist Image in Social Science. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230374171_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230374171_5
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-38913-1
Online ISBN: 978-0-230-37417-1
eBook Packages: Palgrave Social & Cultural Studies CollectionSocial Sciences (R0)