What People Believe When They Say That People Believe: Folk Sociology and the Nature of Group Intentions

by Todd Jones

Overview

In modern life, we often hear people say things like, "Catholics don't believe in using birth control." There are many reasons that we want to know what groups of people (such as Catholics) are thinking and doing. But it's hard to understand which social situations are being described by such statements. It's also difficult to understand what speakers believe when they make such statements (even when the speakers are social scientists.)

In this work, cognitive scientist and philosopher Todd Jones looks at the different things that social scientists and ordinary speakers mean when they make statements ascribing beliefs or actions to groups, rather than individuals. Such statements are often denigrated as mere stereotypes or generalizations. Yet they are also used by people to strategize about what actions to take, and even for social scientific explanations. In this work, Jones takes a detailed look at the different things these kinds of statements about groups can mean, and the various social structures they correspond to. He also looks at how such statements can and can't be used to successfully explain the behavior of individuals or groups. While many people broadly dismiss such statements about groups, Jones gives a careful discussion of the problems and possibilities such statements have.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780739148204
Publisher:	Lexington Books
Publication date:	10/26/2010
Pages:	238
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Todd Jones is associate professor and chair of philosophy at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He is co-editor of Affirmative Action; Social Justice or Reverse Discrimination?.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements vii

Introduction. Statements about Groups The Problem xi

1 Groups Acting and Beliefs about Groups Acting: What We Are Looking For and How We'll Find It 1

2 Collective Claims about Individuals: How Many Chicagoans Need to Like Thick Pizza before You Can Say "Chicagoans Like Thick Pizza"" 19

3 What Starbucks Really Wants 49

4 "We Go to the Diner on Fridays": Norms, Customs, Conventions, and the Like 105

5 Can X-Do-Y Statements Explain" 141

6 Final Thoughts: Statements about Groups and Stereotyping 179

Bibliography 199

Editorial Reviews

In the increasingly complex and turbid literature on group intentions, this interesting book is welcome fresh air. Integrating insights from philosophy, cognitive science, and social science with folk conceptions of group activity, Professor Jones models what we believe when we form and communicate beliefs about groups of people. This stimulating book would be an excellent vehicle for introducing students to the fascinating topic of group intentionality.

Michael O'Rourke