The Self, Relational Sociology, and Morality in Practice

Our review of The Self, Relational Sociology, and Morality in Practice finds it best suited to readers seeking a contemporary, sociologically grounded account of moral life. Owen Abbott offers a clear, academic argument that morality is not an abstract code but a relational practice produced in everyday interaction, and this book's biggest strength is its sustained move beyond old dualisms to show how the self and moral action emerge through social relations. The writing is aimed at scholars and students, and the book rewards careful reading rather than casual browsing.

Key Features

• Theory of moral practice: Presents a coherent sociological framework that treats morality as an achieved practice rather than a fixed set of rules, helping readers reconceptualize ethical life.
• Relational constitution of the self: Argues that the self arises through social relations, offering a lens to examine identity and responsibility in everyday contexts.
• Moves beyond dualisms: Systematically rejects neat binaries such as society versus individual, which clarifies complex phenomena for sociological analysis.
• Accessible academic prose: Balances rigor with readability so graduate students and established researchers can follow extended arguments without unnecessary jargon.
• Prize recognition: Winner of the 2020 British Sociological Association Philip Abrams Prize, signalling its contribution to contemporary sociology.

Who It's For

This book is primarily for sociology scholars, graduate students, and researchers in moral philosophy or religious studies who want a rigorous, relational account of moral practice. It is useful for course reading where students are asked to connect theory with concrete social interaction and identity formation.

Those looking for an introductory textbook or a quick popular read on ethics should look elsewhere; the book assumes familiarity with sociological debates and expects readers to engage deeply with theoretical argumentation rather than anecdotal summaries.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Provides a clear, original theoretical framework that reframes morality as an everyday relational achievement.
• Integrates the emergence of the self into moral practice, offering a useful bridge between identity studies and ethics.
• Scholarly yet readable prose makes complex ideas approachable for graduate-level audiences.

Cons

• Not suited to casual readers seeking a brief overview, since the book assumes prior familiarity with sociological theory.

Specifications

Title	The Self, Relational Sociology, and Morality in Practice
Author	Owen Abbott
Series	Palgrave Studies in Relational Sociology
Award	2020 British Sociological Association Philip Abrams Prize
Focus	Relational sociology and moral practice
Intended audience	Scholars, graduate students, and researchers

Our Verdict

For readers committed to understanding morality as embedded in social relations, Abbott's book is a valuable and well-argued contribution that connects the emergence of the self to moral practice. It is good value for graduate courses and researchers seeking a rigorous theoretical alternative to individualist or structuralist accounts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this book suitable for undergraduate courses?
The book is most appropriate for advanced undergraduates in upper-level seminars or graduate students because it engages sustained theoretical argumentation.

Does the author include empirical examples?
The focus is theoretical and conceptual, using sociological reasoning to show how moral practice and the self are relationally constituted.

Has the book received any recognition?
Yes, it won the 2020 British Sociological Association Philip Abrams Prize, which highlights its contribution to the field.