Replication and reality: or,the future of sociology

This article has been written to raise some questions about the practice of sociology in the past in order to be clearer about sociological practice in the future. Its object is to encourage some reflection on what sociologists do in order that sociology may have a securer future. More specifically the author is concerned with the theoretical implications of some of the methodological assumptions that sociologists make, and with the need for a better epistemological base for sociology as a predicting science.