Against relativism: philosophy of science, deconstruction and critical theory

Acknowledgements. Introduction. 1. Metaphor, Concept, and Theory--Change: Deconstruction as Critical Ontology. 2. Deconstruction and Epistemology: Bachelard, Derrida, de Man. 3. Ontological Relativity and Meaning--Variance: A Critical--Constructive Review. 4. Deconstructing Anti--Realism: Quantum Mechanics and Interpretation--Theory. 5. Hermeneutics, Anti--Realism, and Philosophy of Science. 6. Anti--Realism and Constructive Empiricism: Is There a (Real) Difference?. 7. Ontology According to Van Frassen: Some Problems with Constructive Empiricism. 8. Stuck in the Mangle: Sociology of Science and its Discontents. 9. But Will It Fly? Aerodynamics as a Test--Case for Anti--Realism. 10. Why Strong Sociologists Abhor a Vacuum: Shapin and Schaffer on the Boyle/Hobbes Controversy. 11. Leviathan and the Turbojet: A Critique of Sociological Unreason. Index.