This work investigates the fundamental question of how social science can maintain a realist ontology while accounting for the transformative nature of human agency. Roy Bhaskar, a prominent philosopher and the originator of critical realism, utilizes his established framework to critique both positivist and interpretivist traditions. He argues for a stratified view of reality that distinguishes between the empirical, the actual, and the real, providing a robust foundation for understanding social structures and their causal powers. The text serves as a rigorous defense of the possibility of a science of society that remains sensitive to the complexities of human history and social change.

Scholars and students of social theory frequently cite this text as a foundational pillar for understanding the development of critical realism. Readers often note the high level of academic density and the rigorous logical structure required to engage with Bhaskar's complex philosophical arguments.