This thesis presents and critically evaluates Elder-Vass's social ontology, classifying it as both emergentist and realist. The work begins by outlining the philosophy critical or transcendental realism, which forms the theoretical backdrop for Elder-Vass's philosophy. It then delves into Elder-Vass's application of critical realism to human society, positioning his emergentist approach within the long-standing debate between methodological holism and methodological individualism in sociology. Finally, the thesis explores the implications of Elder-Vass's philosophy for sociological practice, comparing his critical realism with analytical sociology and highlighting their shared emphasis on both individual and collective causal agency.
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