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Social Dynamics of Crime and Control: New Theories for a World in Transition (Oñati International Series in Law and Society)
by Susanne Karstedt Kai BussmannThis book assembles essays by leading scholars in their fields of criminology and socio-legal studies. John Braithwaite, John Hagan, Jack Katz, Nicola Lacey, Michael Levi, Joan McCord, Dario Melossi, Steven Messner and Richard Rosenfeld explore new directions in contemporary theorising about the impact of social and cultural dynamics on crime and social control. These essays have in common that they transcend disciplinary boundaries by combining criminological and socio-legal perspectives; in so doing they bring fresh perspectives to the analysis of crime in market societies and in the global market place. The authors do not share the apocalyptic and dramatic predictions of rising crime rates, but are aware of the "double movement" of social change and the counteracting forces that emerge in its course. These essays promote an integrative perspective that bridges the gap between etiological criminology and a constructionist approach as well as between explanatory and normative theory.
The Social Effects of Global Trade
by Joy Murray Arunima Malik Arne GeschkeThe inclusion of qualitative social data into global environmental and economic input-output (IO) models remained illusive for many years. It was not until around 2013 that researchers found ways to include data, for example, on poverty, inequality, and worker safety, into IO models capable of tracing global supply chains. The sustainable development goals have now propelled this work onto the world stage with some urgency. They have shone a spotlight onto social conditions around the world and brought global trade into the frame for its ability to influence social conditions for good or ill. This book provides a compilation of groundbreaking work on social indicators from the most prominent IO research groups from a wide range of academic backgrounds and from around the world. In addition, it frames this work in the real world of politics, human rights, and business, bringing together a multidisciplinary team to demonstrate the power of IO to illuminate some of the world’s most pressing problems. Edited by well-known researchers in the area, Joy Murray, Arunima Malik, and Arne Geschke, the book is designed to appeal to a broad academic and business audience. While many chapters include technical details and references for follow-up reading, it is possible to omit those sections and yet gain a deep appreciation of the power of IO to address seemingly intractable problems.
The Social Effects of Global Trade
by Joy Murray Arunima Malik Arne GeschkeThe inclusion of qualitative social data into global environmental and economic input-output (IO) models remained illusive for many years. It was not until around 2013 that researchers found ways to include data, for example, on poverty, inequality, and worker safety, into IO models capable of tracing global supply chains. The sustainable development goals have now propelled this work onto the world stage with some urgency. They have shone a spotlight onto social conditions around the world and brought global trade into the frame for its ability to influence social conditions for good or ill. This book provides a compilation of groundbreaking work on social indicators from the most prominent IO research groups from a wide range of academic backgrounds and from around the world. In addition, it frames this work in the real world of politics, human rights, and business, bringing together a multidisciplinary team to demonstrate the power of IO to illuminate some of the world’s most pressing problems. Edited by well-known researchers in the area, Joy Murray, Arunima Malik, and Arne Geschke, the book is designed to appeal to a broad academic and business audience. While many chapters include technical details and references for follow-up reading, it is possible to omit those sections and yet gain a deep appreciation of the power of IO to address seemingly intractable problems.
Social Enterprise Law: Trust, Public Benefit and Capital Markets
by Dana Brakman Reiser Steven A. DeanSocial enterprises represent a new kind of venture, dedicated to pursuing profits for owners and benefits for society. Social Enterprise Law provides tools that will allow them to raise the capital they need to flourish. Social Enterprise Law weaves innovation in contract and corporate governance into powerful protections against insiders sacrificing goals such as environmental sustainability in the pursuit of short-term profits. Creating a stable balance between financial returns and public benefits will allow social entrepreneurs to team up with impact investors that share their vision of a double bottom line. Brakman Reiser and Dean show how novel legal technologies can allow social enterprises to access capital markets, including unconventional sources such as crowdfunding. With its straightforward insights into complex areas of the law, the book shows how a social mission can even be shielded from the turbulence of an acquisition or bankruptcy. It also shows why, as the metrics available to measure the impact of social missions on individuals and communities become more sophisticated, such legal innovations will continue to become more robust. By providing a comprehensive survey of the U.S. laws and a bold vision for how legal institutions across the globe could be reformed, this book offers new insights and approaches to help social enterprises raise the capital they need to flourish. It offers a rich guide for students, entrepreneurs, investors, and practitioners.
Social Enterprise Law: Trust, Public Benefit and Capital Markets
by Dana Brakman Reiser Steven A. DeanSocial enterprises represent a new kind of venture, dedicated to pursuing profits for owners and benefits for society. Social Enterprise Law provides tools that will allow them to raise the capital they need to flourish. Social Enterprise Law weaves innovation in contract and corporate governance into powerful protections against insiders sacrificing goals such as environmental sustainability in the pursuit of short-term profits. Creating a stable balance between financial returns and public benefits will allow social entrepreneurs to team up with impact investors that share their vision of a double bottom line. Brakman Reiser and Dean show how novel legal technologies can allow social enterprises to access capital markets, including unconventional sources such as crowdfunding. With its straightforward insights into complex areas of the law, the book shows how a social mission can even be shielded from the turbulence of an acquisition or bankruptcy. It also shows why, as the metrics available to measure the impact of social missions on individuals and communities become more sophisticated, such legal innovations will continue to become more robust. By providing a comprehensive survey of the U.S. laws and a bold vision for how legal institutions across the globe could be reformed, this book offers new insights and approaches to help social enterprises raise the capital they need to flourish. It offers a rich guide for students, entrepreneurs, investors, and practitioners.
Social Entrepreneurs: Mobilisers of Social Change (Developments in Corporate Governance and Responsibility #18)
by David Crowther Farzana QuoquabSocial entrepreneurs greatly differ from other forms of entrepreneurs in terms of judgment capacity, pro-activeness, innovativeness, entrepreneurial virtue. They are often associated with social innovation and ascribed as transformational leaders due to their contribution in finding and initiating the positive change in solving any social problem. In recent years, the whole world is facing different aspects and levels of social problems. This has led to social entrepreneurs becoming more desired and attracting significant research attention. However, the discussion on such topic is still at its infancy with ongoing debates on its definition, characteristics, and roles. Social Entrepreneurs: Mobilisers of Social Change works to fill this gap in the literature, exploring the notion of social entrepreneurs, their role, facets, and implications to address the social problems. Developments in Corporate Governance and Responsibility offers the latest research on topical issues by international experts and has practical relevance to business managers. This is the only book series endorsed by the Social Responsibility Research Network.
Social Entrepreneurs: Mobilisers of Social Change (Developments in Corporate Governance and Responsibility #18)
by David Crowther, Farzana QuoquabSocial entrepreneurs greatly differ from other forms of entrepreneurs in terms of judgment capacity, pro-activeness, innovativeness, entrepreneurial virtue. They are often associated with social innovation and ascribed as transformational leaders due to their contribution in finding and initiating the positive change in solving any social problem. In recent years, the whole world is facing different aspects and levels of social problems. This has led to social entrepreneurs becoming more desired and attracting significant research attention. However, the discussion on such topic is still at its infancy with ongoing debates on its definition, characteristics, and roles. Social Entrepreneurs: Mobilisers of Social Change works to fill this gap in the literature, exploring the notion of social entrepreneurs, their role, facets, and implications to address the social problems. Developments in Corporate Governance and Responsibility offers the latest research on topical issues by international experts and has practical relevance to business managers. This is the only book series endorsed by the Social Responsibility Research Network.
Social Entrepreneurship: An Affirmative Critique
by P. Dey C. SteyaertPascal Dey and Chris Steyaert provide a timely critique on the idea of social entrepreneurship and its reputation as a means for positive social change. The book uses different traditions and modes of critique to interrogate, disrupt and reimagine the concept of social entrepreneurship. Presented in five parts, each individual contribution uses a different critical perspective to analyse and assess social entrepreneurship in its mythological, ideological and performative constitution, looking for its democratic possibilities and alternative affirmations. Using varied analytical approaches, the resulting work highlights the need for a greater recognition of the unintended effects of social entrepreneurship and in doing so, adds nuance to a concept that has gone relatively unchallenged. In addition, each chapter identifies intriguing points for further research. Scholars in the fields of social entrepreneurship, management and organizational studies will find this a relevant and insightful work. Those with a wider scholarly interest in critical research, particularly in the humanities or social sciences, will also find the critical approaches compelling.
Social Entrepreneurship: Leveraging Economic, Political, and Cultural Dimensions (International Studies in Entrepreneurship #29)
by Anders Lundström Chunyan Zhou Yvonne Von Friedrichs Elisabeth SundinThis contributed volume features state-of-the-art research from ten different countries on implementation, institutionalization and the future prospects of social entrepreneurship. This volume aims at bringing together research that considers the context of economy, politics and cultural issues combining with the needs of social and human development. By conceptualizing the notion of social entrepreneurship and societal entrepreneurship, this volume aims to disseminate the numerous streams of research and theory of social entrepreneurship to educators, libraries, scholars, non-profit researchers, public policy makers, practitioners, undergraduate and graduate students, and any organization or person interested in staying abreast of advances in this area. It is also an important reference book for teachers, students and faculty interested in conducting research or teaching social entrepreneurship.
Social Entrepreneurship: An Innovative Solution to Social Problems
by Meng Zhao Jiye MaoThis book incorporates theoretical framework and management cases in discussions on social enterprise in China. The authors look to address two fundamental questions about social enterprises in China that have been very controversial over the years. First, what is social enterprise? This book proposes a framework that defines Chinese social enterprises based on social entrepreneurship, and includes ten case studies for justification. Second, who are well-performed social enterprises with financial viability and proved social impact? The book describes in detail some of the leading social enterprises in China. It is aimed at a wide target audience. Practitioners will learn experience and lessons from the case studies. Academics can use the cases in different teaching contexts, and gain research inspirations from our framework and case studies. Policy makers, accreditation agencies, professional service providers, and institutional investors will learn to identify and evaluate promising social enterprises.
Social Entrepreneurship and Business Ethics: Understanding the Contribution and Normative Ambivalence of Purpose-driven Venturing (Routledge Studies in Entrepreneurship)
by Anica Zeyen Markus BeckmannSocial entrepreneurs are change makers that aim to solve society’s unsolved problems. Not surprisingly, social entrepreneurship has thus created high expectations. To better understand the potential as well as the limitations of social entrepreneurship, however, a more nuanced approach is needed in two ways. First, social entrepreneurship is a multi-level phenomenon. It spans macro-level questions as well as meso-level questions and, finally, micro-level questions. If we really want to understand social entrepreneurship, we need to bring together all three levels of analysis and see how they are connected. Second, while social entrepreneurship can certainly produce socially desirable outcomes, we also need a critical perspective to capture potential undesirable effects that social entrepreneurship can cause, often unintendedly, in society, in markets, in organizations, and for individuals. To this end, an ethical perspective can help complement the positive analysis of social entrepreneurship with a discussion of the normative implications of its potential "dark side". Looking at social entrepreneurship from both a multi-level analysis and an ethical perspective, Social Entrepreneurship and Business Ethics takes the reader on a journey through the "bright side" as well as the potential "dark side" of social entrepreneurship for societies, organizations, and individuals. Highlighting both, this book not only seeks to provoke researchers and students to advance their understanding of social entrepreneurship. It also hopes to help practitioners to better realize the positive contributions of social entrepreneurship for society.
Social Entrepreneurship and Business Ethics: Understanding the Contribution and Normative Ambivalence of Purpose-driven Venturing (Routledge Studies in Entrepreneurship)
by Anica Zeyen Markus BeckmannSocial entrepreneurs are change makers that aim to solve society’s unsolved problems. Not surprisingly, social entrepreneurship has thus created high expectations. To better understand the potential as well as the limitations of social entrepreneurship, however, a more nuanced approach is needed in two ways. First, social entrepreneurship is a multi-level phenomenon. It spans macro-level questions as well as meso-level questions and, finally, micro-level questions. If we really want to understand social entrepreneurship, we need to bring together all three levels of analysis and see how they are connected. Second, while social entrepreneurship can certainly produce socially desirable outcomes, we also need a critical perspective to capture potential undesirable effects that social entrepreneurship can cause, often unintendedly, in society, in markets, in organizations, and for individuals. To this end, an ethical perspective can help complement the positive analysis of social entrepreneurship with a discussion of the normative implications of its potential "dark side". Looking at social entrepreneurship from both a multi-level analysis and an ethical perspective, Social Entrepreneurship and Business Ethics takes the reader on a journey through the "bright side" as well as the potential "dark side" of social entrepreneurship for societies, organizations, and individuals. Highlighting both, this book not only seeks to provoke researchers and students to advance their understanding of social entrepreneurship. It also hopes to help practitioners to better realize the positive contributions of social entrepreneurship for society.
Social Entrepreneurship and Corporate Social Responsibility (Management for Professionals)
by Satinder Dhiman Joan MarquesThis book provides professionals, as well as students, with the understanding that Social Entrepreneurship and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) are now core business principles for sustainably. It encourages social entrepreneurs in their role as forerunners, in creating new business models that develop, facilitate or implement constructive solutions to social, cultural and environmental issues. At the same time, this book views corporate social responsibility as a means of challenging existing entities to realize and modify prior unsustainable and predatory business models; and to increase social, cultural and environmental accountability. By linking these two concepts, this book prompts a paradigmatic awakening, whereby the foundational driver of business creation and management no longer rests on profit maximization, but on improvement of the quality of life for society.
Social Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation: Ecosystems for Inclusion in Europe (Routledge Studies in Innovation, Organizations and Technology)
by Mario Biggeri Enrico Testi Marco Bellucci Roel During H. Thomas R. PerssonThis book provides comprehensive and advanced analysis of the characteristics of social entrepreneurship in Europe. It offers innovative, up-todate research on the ecosystems of social entrepreneurship, the behavior of social entrepreneurs, their ability to produce social innovation, social capital and social inclusion, and the role of stakeholders in fostering socially oriented businesses. Moreover, it addresses the diversity of the European social enterprise sector from an evolutionary perspective, with particular reference to the rise of social entrepreneurship and the role of new-generation social entrepreneurs throughout Europe. Multidisciplinary contributions authored by experts from business and accounting, economics, and sociology serve the purpose of delivering a holistic study of social entrepreneurship, also providing the necessary data for delivering policy implications on the features of the most effective enabling social and institutional ecosystems. The broad approach, based on different theoretical frameworks and methodologies across numerous disciplines, enables the authors to tackle all of the complex research issues connected to social entrepreneurship in the region. The book builds on the results of the European Union 7FP (European Union’s Research and Innovation funding program for 2007–013)-funded “EFESEIIS – Enabling the flourishing and evolution of social entrepreneurship for innovative and inclusive societies” research project. The central theme of the book is an evolutionary perspective on the dynamics and the rise of the social enterprise in Europe. This evolutionary perspective can be used in an economic as well as a social longitudinal analysis of changing contexts and entrepreneurial practices. The evolutionary perspective will be used as a tool to account for the specificity of developmental pathways in different contexts and countries.
Social Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation: Ecosystems for Inclusion in Europe (Routledge Studies in Innovation, Organizations and Technology)
by Mario Biggeri Enrico Testi Marco Bellucci Roel During H. Thomas R. PerssonThis book provides comprehensive and advanced analysis of the characteristics of social entrepreneurship in Europe. It offers innovative, up-todate research on the ecosystems of social entrepreneurship, the behavior of social entrepreneurs, their ability to produce social innovation, social capital and social inclusion, and the role of stakeholders in fostering socially oriented businesses. Moreover, it addresses the diversity of the European social enterprise sector from an evolutionary perspective, with particular reference to the rise of social entrepreneurship and the role of new-generation social entrepreneurs throughout Europe. Multidisciplinary contributions authored by experts from business and accounting, economics, and sociology serve the purpose of delivering a holistic study of social entrepreneurship, also providing the necessary data for delivering policy implications on the features of the most effective enabling social and institutional ecosystems. The broad approach, based on different theoretical frameworks and methodologies across numerous disciplines, enables the authors to tackle all of the complex research issues connected to social entrepreneurship in the region. The book builds on the results of the European Union 7FP (European Union’s Research and Innovation funding program for 2007–013)-funded “EFESEIIS – Enabling the flourishing and evolution of social entrepreneurship for innovative and inclusive societies” research project. The central theme of the book is an evolutionary perspective on the dynamics and the rise of the social enterprise in Europe. This evolutionary perspective can be used in an economic as well as a social longitudinal analysis of changing contexts and entrepreneurial practices. The evolutionary perspective will be used as a tool to account for the specificity of developmental pathways in different contexts and countries.
Social Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation: Ecosystems for Inclusion in Europe (PDF) (Routledge Studies In Innovation, Organizations And Technology Ser.)
by Mario Biggeri Enrico Testi Marco Belluci Roel During H. Thomas R. PerssonThis book provides comprehensive and advanced analysis of the characteristics of social entrepreneurship in Europe. It offers innovative, up-to date research on the ecosystems of social entrepreneurship, the behavior of social entrepreneurs, their ability to produce social innovation, social capital and social inclusion, and the role of stakeholders in fostering socially oriented businesses. Moreover, it addresses the diversity of the European social enterprise sector from an evolutionary perspective, with particular reference to the rise of social entrepreneurship and the role of new-generation social entrepreneurs throughout Europe. Multidisciplinary contributions authored by experts from business and accounting, economics, and sociology serve the purpose of delivering a holistic study of social entrepreneurship, also providing the necessary data for delivering policy implications on the features of the most effective enabling social and institutional ecosystems. The broad approach, based on different theoretical frameworks and methodologies across numerous disciplines, enables the authors to tackle all of the complex research issues connected to social entrepreneurship in the region. The book builds on the results of the European Union 7FP (European Union’s Research and Innovation funding program for 2007–013)-funded “EFESEIIS – Enabling the flourishing and evolution of social entrepreneurship for innovative and inclusive societies” research project. The central theme of the book is an evolutionary perspective on the dynamics and the rise of the social enterprise in Europe. This evolutionary perspective can be used in an economic as well as a social longitudinal analysis of changing contexts and entrepreneurial practices. The evolutionary perspective will be used as a tool to account for the specificity of developmental pathways in different contexts and countries.
Social Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation: Ecosystems for Inclusion in Europe (Routledge Studies In Innovation, Organizations And Technology Ser.)
by Mario Biggeri Enrico Testi Marco Belluci Roel During H. Thomas R. PerssonThis book provides comprehensive and advanced analysis of the characteristics of social entrepreneurship in Europe. It offers innovative, up-to date research on the ecosystems of social entrepreneurship, the behavior of social entrepreneurs, their ability to produce social innovation, social capital and social inclusion, and the role of stakeholders in fostering socially oriented businesses. Moreover, it addresses the diversity of the European social enterprise sector from an evolutionary perspective, with particular reference to the rise of social entrepreneurship and the role of new-generation social entrepreneurs throughout Europe. Multidisciplinary contributions authored by experts from business and accounting, economics, and sociology serve the purpose of delivering a holistic study of social entrepreneurship, also providing the necessary data for delivering policy implications on the features of the most effective enabling social and institutional ecosystems. The broad approach, based on different theoretical frameworks and methodologies across numerous disciplines, enables the authors to tackle all of the complex research issues connected to social entrepreneurship in the region. The book builds on the results of the European Union 7FP (European Union’s Research and Innovation funding program for 2007–013)-funded “EFESEIIS – Enabling the flourishing and evolution of social entrepreneurship for innovative and inclusive societies” research project. The central theme of the book is an evolutionary perspective on the dynamics and the rise of the social enterprise in Europe. This evolutionary perspective can be used in an economic as well as a social longitudinal analysis of changing contexts and entrepreneurial practices. The evolutionary perspective will be used as a tool to account for the specificity of developmental pathways in different contexts and countries.
Social Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Business Models: The Case of India
by Anirudh Agrawal Payal KumarAddressing the need for further theorisation and operationalisation of social entrepreneurship in India, this edited collection provides a critical and deeper understanding of the social entrepreneurial ecosystem. Covering topics such as entrepreneurial intentions, empathy, impact investment and standardised social measures, the contributors explore the potential of social entrepreneurship and sustainable business models in an Indian context. Offering empirical cases and presenting a realistic perspective of the social entrepreneurship landscape in India, this collection will undoubtedly be of value to those interested in creating a social and sustainable impact in business and society.
Social Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Business Models: The Case of India
by Anirudh Agrawal Payal KumarAddressing the need for further theorisation and operationalisation of social entrepreneurship in India, this edited collection provides a critical and deeper understanding of the social entrepreneurial ecosystem. Covering topics such as entrepreneurial intentions, empathy, impact investment and standardised social measures, the contributors explore the potential of social entrepreneurship and sustainable business models in an Indian context. Offering empirical cases and presenting a realistic perspective of the social entrepreneurship landscape in India, this collection will undoubtedly be of value to those interested in creating a social and sustainable impact in business and society.
Social Entrepreneurship and Tourism: Philosophy and Practice (Tourism on the Verge)
by Pauline J. Sheldon Roberto DanieleThis volume explores the links between the rapidly growing phenomenon of social entrepreneurship (SE) and the international tourism and hospitality industry. This unique industry is particularly ripe for transformation by SE and the book’s authors delve deeply into the reasons for this. The book has three parts. The first creates a conceptual and theoretical framework for understanding the uniqueness of SE in the tourism context. The second examines different communities of practice where SE is being applied in tourism. The third is a rich collection of case studies from eight countries where tourism SE is already having an impact. The book’s authors address the topic from many different angles, disciplinary backgrounds and geographic areas. Many case study authors are practicing social entrepreneurs who share their successes, challenges and experience with tourism-related projects. The book also proposes a research agenda and educational programmatic changes needed to support tourism SE. As these are developed, tourism SE will bring innovation to destinations, transformation of their economic and social structures, and contribution to a better world. The book has many insights and resources for scholars and practitioners alike to usher in this transformation.
Social Entrepreneurship in Sport: How Sport Can Deliver Social Wellbeing
by Vanessa RattenThe social role of sport enterprises is being increasingly recognized at both local and global levels. Sport has the ability to influence community cohesion, physical and mental health, social inclusivity, and provides positive role models across society. More businesses in sport are incorporating these social aspects into their plans as a way of differentiating themselves from their competitors. This, in turn, has led to more social innovation in sport. Recently, there has been more emphasis on social entrepreneurship in sport due to the growing need to capture its societal impact. This book explores the non-profit role sport plays in society, and demonstrates how social enterprises can both address some of the negative social outcomes of sport and support businesses as they develop their social objectives. The over-arching aim of the book is to focus on how social entrepreneurship in sport is important in developing a better global society.
Social Entrepreneurship in Sport: How Sport Can Deliver Social Wellbeing
by Vanessa RattenThe social role of sport enterprises is being increasingly recognized at both local and global levels. Sport has the ability to influence community cohesion, physical and mental health, social inclusivity, and provides positive role models across society. More businesses in sport are incorporating these social aspects into their plans as a way of differentiating themselves from their competitors. This, in turn, has led to more social innovation in sport. Recently, there has been more emphasis on social entrepreneurship in sport due to the growing need to capture its societal impact. This book explores the non-profit role sport plays in society, and demonstrates how social enterprises can both address some of the negative social outcomes of sport and support businesses as they develop their social objectives. The over-arching aim of the book is to focus on how social entrepreneurship in sport is important in developing a better global society.
Social Entrepreneurship - Social Business: Für die Gesellschaft unternehmen
by Helga Hackenberg Stefan EmpterEine Idee breitet sich aus: Das Soziale, die gesellschaftliche Verantwortung neu begreifen – als Aktionsfeld gesellschaftlichen Unternehmertums im wahren Wortsinn. Mit Social Entrepreneurship und Social Business haben sich Ansätze entwickelt, mithilfe unternehmerischer Methoden sozialen Mehrwert zu generieren und gesellschaftliche Probleme nachhaltig zu lösen – sei es in der Armutsbekämpfung, im Bildungswesen, in der Entwicklungspolitik oder in der Sozialen Arbeit als Profession. Zentrales Anliegen der Beiträge dieses Bandes ist es, die Kernidee von Social Entrepreneurship und Social Business in die gesellschaftspolitische Debatte einzuordnen, um Lehrenden und Studierenden, Praktikern und Interessierten weiterführende Impulse zu geben.
The Social Epistemology of Legal Trials (Routledge Studies in Epistemology)
by Zachary Hoskins Jon RobsonThis collection is the first book-length examination of the various epistemological issues underlying legal trials. Trials are centrally concerned with determining truth: whether a criminal defendant has in fact culpably committed the act of which they are accused, or whether a civil defendant is in fact responsible for the damages alleged by the plaintiff. Truth is not, however, the only epistemic value which seems relevant to how trials proceed. We may think that a jury shouldn’t convict a defendant, even one who is as a matter of fact guilty, unless its members know or at least are justified in believing that the defendant committed the crime in question. Similarly, we might reasonably assume that the trier of fact must have some level of understanding to reach an adequate verdict in any case, but legitimate questions arise as to what level of understanding should be required. The essays collected in this volume consider a range of epistemological issues raised by trials, such as how much credence jurors should give to eyewitness testimony, the admissibility and role of statistical evidence, and the appropriate standards of proof in different contexts. The Social Epistemology of Legal Trials will be of interest to scholars and upper-level students working on issues at the intersection of epistemology and philosophy of law.
The Social Epistemology of Legal Trials (Routledge Studies in Epistemology)
by Zachary Hoskins Jon RobsonThis collection is the first book-length examination of the various epistemological issues underlying legal trials. Trials are centrally concerned with determining truth: whether a criminal defendant has in fact culpably committed the act of which they are accused, or whether a civil defendant is in fact responsible for the damages alleged by the plaintiff. Truth is not, however, the only epistemic value which seems relevant to how trials proceed. We may think that a jury shouldn’t convict a defendant, even one who is as a matter of fact guilty, unless its members know or at least are justified in believing that the defendant committed the crime in question. Similarly, we might reasonably assume that the trier of fact must have some level of understanding to reach an adequate verdict in any case, but legitimate questions arise as to what level of understanding should be required. The essays collected in this volume consider a range of epistemological issues raised by trials, such as how much credence jurors should give to eyewitness testimony, the admissibility and role of statistical evidence, and the appropriate standards of proof in different contexts. The Social Epistemology of Legal Trials will be of interest to scholars and upper-level students working on issues at the intersection of epistemology and philosophy of law.