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 Rorty
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 academia
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
Books
"Pragmatism, Phenomenology, and Twentieth-Century American Sociology" [Chapter Six, page 183] - in Sociology in America: A History,
Craig Calhoun, ed. 2008.
ISBN9780226090955
Richard Rorty: The Making of an American Philosopher- 2008.
ISBN9780226309903
^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.
^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."".
SSRN1012734. {{
cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (
help)