The social misconstruction of reality
Subtitle: validity and verification in the scholarly community
By: Richard F. Hamilton.
Publisher: Yale University Press
Published: 1996
Place of publication: New Haven
Language: eng
Number of pages: 289
Subjects: Historiography -- Case studies.; Knowledge, Sociology of -- Case studies.
Description: In this provocative book Richard F. Hamilton examines the social determinants of knowledge, focusing on three well-accepted but erroneous social theories and looking closely at the ways social misconstructions originate and thrive.

Hamilton finds that despite critiques by historians, some scholars continue to believe Max Weber's claim that a strong linkage between Protestantism and worldly success led to the rise of the capitalist West. Similarly, many academics still argue the discredited view that the German lower middle class voted overwhelmingly for the Nazis.

Foucalt's flawed interpretation of the "birth of prison" and other disciplinary concepts in modern society finds wide acceptance in many academic circles, despite a lack of serious empirical support. In each of these three cases, the author assesses the logic and empirical accuracy of the accepted theory and alternative theories, and he investigates the social processes giving rise to misconstructions.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 225-285) and index.