From 2004 to 2008, Gross was an assistant professor of sociology at Harvard University, after which he joined the faculty of the University of British Columbia.[9] He was the editor-in-chief of Sociological Theory for six years (2009-2015).[2] In 2015, he left the University of British Columbia to become Charles A. Dana professor and chair of sociology at Colby College.[2]
Biography of Richard Rortyedit
Gross garnered considerable attention for his 2008 book Richard Rorty: The Making of an American Philosopher, which focused on philosopher Richard Rorty, and has been described by philosopher Barry Allen as using Rorty's life to "build a theory of the sociology of ideas."[1][10] Reviewing the book, sociologist Neil Mclaughlin commended Gross for his "careful archival research, innovative theoretical synthesis and substantive contributions."[1][11]
On liberalism in academiaedit
Another focus of Gross' work has been the political leanings of university professors. With Solon Simmons, he began in 2006 a survey of 1417 faculty members at 927 United States universities, colleges, and community colleges, called the Politics of the American Professoriate.[12][13]: 25–26 [14]Inside Higher Ed reported that several experts said that the survey data "may become the definitive source for understanding professors' political views."[14] Gross published an extensive analysis of this work in the 2013 book Why Are Professors Liberal and Why Do Conservatives Care?[15] He and Simmons further analyzed the field of research in their 2014 compilation Professors and Their Politics.[13]: 25–26 Sociologist Joseph Hermanowicz described Professors and Their Politics as an important work, on a par with "Paul Lazarsfeld and Wagner Theilen's classic study of 1958 and Seymour Martin Lipset and Everett Carll Ladd's 1976 work."[16] Gross has found, along with numerous other researchers, that there are more liberals than conservatives in university faculty,[13]: 25–26 but he has also said that there is relatively little evidence that students are indoctrinated into liberal opinions during college.[5] In a field of study where experts disagree,[17][18][19][20] and some have taken opposing views specifically on Gross' methods and interpretations,[21][22][23][24] he has also criticized what he sees as conservative political bias intentionally distorting the results of demographic research on campus politics.[13]: 20
Booksedit
"Pragmatism, Phenomenology, and Twentieth-Century American Sociology" [Chapter Six, page 183] - in Sociology in America: A History, Craig Calhoun, ed. 2008. ISBN 9780226090955
Richard Rorty: The Making of an American Philosopher- 2008. ISBN 9780226309903
^Hauchecorne, Mathieu; Ollion, Etienne (January 2009). "What is the new sociology of Ideas ? A Discussion with Charles Camic and Neil Gross". Transeo Review. Archived from the original on 24 April 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
^Boyle, Gerry (2015-10-16). "Patrolling the New Sociology". Colby Magazine. Retrieved 2017-07-23.
^"Neil Gross Plans To Leave Harvard". www.thecrimson.com. Retrieved 2017-07-23.
^Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews, http://ndpr.nd.edu/ (October 11, 2008), Barry Allen, review of Richard Rorty.
^Canadian Journal of Sociology, September 22, 2009, Neil McLaughlin, review of Richard Rorty: The Making of an American Philosopher, pp. 1156-1160.
^Gross, Neil; Simmons, Solon (September 24, 2007). "The Social and Political Views of American Professors". (working paper). CiteSeerX10.1.1.147.6141.
^ abcdGross, Neil; Simmons, Solon (29 May 2014). "The Social and Political Views of American College and University Professors". In Gross, N.; Simmons, S. (eds.). Professors and Their Politics. Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-1-4214-1334-1. LCCN 2013035780.
^ abJaschik, Scott (October 8, 2007). "The Liberal (and Moderating) Professoriate". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
^Gross, Neil (2013). Why Are Professors Liberal and Why Do Conservatives Care?. Harvard University Press. ISBN 9780674059092. LCCN 2012031469.
^Hermanowicz, Joseph C. (November 2015). "Professors and Their Politics. Edited by Neil Gross and Solon Simmons". American Journal of Sociology. 121 (3): 983–985. doi:10.1086/682889.
^Rothman, Stanley; Lichter, S. Robert; Nevitte, Neil (2005). "Politics and Professional Advancement Among College Faculty" (PDF). The Forum. 3 (1). CiteSeerX10.1.1.207.1412. doi:10.2202/1540-8884.1067. S2CID 145340516.
^Jon A. Shields; Joshua M. Dunn Sr. (March 2016). Passing on the Right: Conservative Professors in the Progressive University. Oxford Scholarship Online. doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199863051.001.0001. ISBN 9780199863051. OCLC 965380745.
^Ames, Barry; Barker, David C.; Bonneau, Chris W.; Carman, Chris J. (12 September 2007). "Hide the Republicans, the Christians, and the Women: A Response to "Politics and Professional Advancement Among College Faculty."". SSRN 1012734. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
^Tetlock, Philip E.; Mitchell, Gregory (February 2015). "Why so Few Conservatives and Should we Care?". Symposium: Liberals and Conservatives in Academia. Society. 52 (1): 28–34. doi:10.1007/s12115-014-9850-6. S2CID 144878612.
^Woessner, Matthew; Kelly-Woessner, April (February 2015). "Reflections on academic liberalism and conservative criticism". Symposium: Liberals and Conservatives in Academia. Society. 52 (1): 35–41. doi:10.1007/s12115-014-9864-0. S2CID 145584445.
^Yancey, George (February 2015). "Both/and instead of either/or". Symposium: Liberals and Conservatives in Academia. Society. 52 (1): 23–27. doi:10.1007/s12115-014-9854-2. S2CID 144153781.
^Marsden, George M. (February 2015). "Religious discrimination in academia". Symposium: Liberals and Conservatives in Academia. Society. 52 (1): 19–22. doi:10.1007/s12115-014-9853-3. S2CID 144749284.