This festschrift commemorates the legacy of UK-based Portuguese
sociologist Hermínio Martins (1934-2015). It introduces Martins'
wide-ranging contributions to the social sciences, encompassing seminal
works in the fields of philosophy and social theory, historical and
political sociology, studies of science and technology, and
Luso-Brazilian studies, among others. The book features an in-depth
interview with Martins, short memoirs, and twelve chapters addressing
topics that were central to his intellectual and political interests.
Among those that stand out are his critique of Thomas Kuhn's theory of
scientific revolutions, his work on the significance of time in social
theory and the interweaving of techno-scientific developments and
socio-cultural transformations, including the impact of communication
and digital technologies, and of market-led eugenics. Other themes
covered are Martins' work on patrimonialism and social development in
Portugal and Brazil, and his analysis of the state of the social
sciences in Portugal, which reflects his highly critical appraisal of
the ongoing marketization andneoliberalization of academic life and
institutions worldwide.