Abstract

In sociology we have recently witnessed a move towards a stronger emphasis on temporality and narrative analysis. The paper discusses the so-called narrative positivism proposed by the American sociologist Andrew Abbott as one of the first, most original and wide-ranging attempt to construct a narrative sociology. In particular, through a focus on both his interpretation of the Chicago legacy and his research on temporality, the paper addresses Abbot's criticism of mainstream sociological methodology and his developing social theory of spatial and temporal contexts. In the final section, four motives are given to closely consider Abbott's theoretical pursuits although still in progress and far from systematic.