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Assesses the value of Karl Popper's situational analysis for contemporary sociology. Popper and sociology; Evolution of situational analysis in Popper's work; Assessment of situational analysis.

Presents a postmodern study that argues that theories and individuals are fictions. Hypothesis that the reading of theories and, in interaction, of individuals is a paranoid pursuit itself inducing further paranoid conduct or writings; Suggestion that an escalating social paranoia may push non-readers and non-writers, to the extent that they give up on 'paranoid literary', into narcissism.

Questions how can doing sociology be justified at this time. Existence of the possibility of the man-made end of all human beings, of all life, of the planet itself; Sociological reformulation of the history of sociology in more subjective terms; Strengths and weaknesses of a sociological, 'more subjective' approach to the history of sociology.

Argues against the version of relativism which proposes that all beliefs are on a par with respect to the causes of their credibility. Argument that relativism in the sociology of knowledge is a common theme; Author's concern about the application of the theme; Rational common ground int eh sociology of knowledge.

Argues that philosopher Ernest Geller's writing, while insightful, is paradigmatic of the limitations of conservative orthodoxy. Assumption that a theory of the nation requires as a starting point an adequate theory of social formations; Definition of social formation.

Considers the social construction of knowledge. Characteristics of the social phenomena of knowledge; Factors that determine what individuals know; Plausibility of claims about the social construct of knowledge.

Erving Goffman's reputation as a cynic stems from his text, The Presentation of Self in Everyday Lie, which portrays the self as a manipulative confidence trickster. However, matters are more complicated than they first appear. There are two versions of the text, one published in 1956, the other in 1959, and Goffman's revisions to the latter quietly challenge the cynicism of the former. Focussing on these revisions makes the text look rather different. Goffman has two voices in The Presentation of Self and the aim of this paper is to allow each to be heard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]