Review of: Mallon, R. (2016). The Construction of Human Kinds. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-875567-8, 262 p.

In “The Construction of Human Kinds”, Ron Mallon explores how social categories such as race, gender, and sexuality are not natural facts but are formed through collective beliefs, language, and social roles. He argues that although these categories are socially constructed, they can still be real, stable, and causally powerful. The book combines philosophy of science, cognitive psychology, and social theory to develop a realistic version of social constructionism. Mallon shows how treating categories as “natural” can reduce moral responsibility and sustain inequality. He also explains how people often unknowingly perform social roles that they believe to be biologically grounded. This work is crucial for understanding how identity and structure are created and maintained. It offers theoretical tools to analyze social change and address injustice in contemporary societies.