Sociology as if nature did not matter has been the sociological expression of modern societies negligent of the processes of nature. In response to this ?ecological blindness,? Raymond Murphy examines the limitations of sociology that have resulted from this neglect.Humanity's success in manipulating nature destabilizes the natural support system of society on a planetary scale and, in turn, destabilizes all of society's institutions. Because the manipulation of nature has become so central to modern society, society, Murphy argues, can now be understood only in terms of the interaction between social action and the processes of nature. The growing awareness that social constructions unleash dynamic processes of nature?processes beyond human control that bear on social action?has the potential of radically transforming sociology. Sociology and Nature proposes the reconstruction of sociology in which nature does matters, developing a novel sociological approach that situates social action in its natural context.

Preface -- Social Action Abstracted from Its Context -- Sociology as if Nature Did Not Matter: An Ecological Critique -- The Sociological Construction of Science Without Nature -- Sociological Misunderstandings Concerning Nature -- The Context of Social Action -- Weaknesses of Sociological Analyses of the Context of Social Action -- Toward the Analysis of Social Action in Its Context -- The Risk Species -- Material Risks -- Social Risks Resulting from the Manipulation of Nature -- Transforming Risk into Opportunity -- Political Economy -- Society and Culture -- Further Analysis of Social Action in Its Context -- Victims of the Monopolization of the Natural Environment -- Parallels with Other Theories -- Posthumanism