Socializing Metaphysics: The Nature of Social Reality

Human life is conducted within a network of social relations, social groups and societies. What is it for human beings to stand in social relations or form social groups? Do these relations and groups bring about something above and beyond the individuals involved? Is there any sense to the notion of a human being apart from social relations? How can an individual achive autonomy within society? In what sense are human kinds life race and gender socially constructed? These are the basic questions of social metaphysics. This book supplies diverse answers to them, from a broad array of voices. Social metaphysics provides a metaphysical foundation for social theory, as well as for social epistemology, philosophy of language, philosophy of mind, action theory, ethics and political philosophy.