Philip Walsh, an associate professor in the Department of Sociology, has written a new book titled The Reality of Knowledge (Routledge, 2026). The book proposes new approaches to the sociology of knowledge and the theories that influence the field by looking at the history of the discipline its key themes and social meaning. Furthermore, it looks at critical realism and the work of scholar Norbert Elias.
Walsh’s research focuses mostly on the theoretical foundations of the social sciences. His earlier work was oriented to epistemology in the critical theory tradition of the Frankfurt School. More recently, he has written on the significance of the work of the political theorist, Hannah Arendt, for sociology and sociological theory. His current research explores the significance of Critical Realism in the fields of the sociology of knowledge and of emotions. His books include Skepticism, Modernity and Critical Theory (Palgrave, 2008), Arendt Contra Sociology (Routledge, 2015) and co-edited with Peter Baehr, The Anthem Companion to Hannah Arendt (Anthem, 2017).
Learn more about the book on Routledge.