Philosophical Foundations of the Social Sciences: Analyzing Controversies in Social ResearchThis book defends the prospects for a science of society. It argues that behind the diverse methods of the natural sciences lies a common core of scientific rationality that the social sciences can and sometimes do achieve. It also argues that good social science must be in part about large-scale social structures and processes and thus that methodological individualism is misguided. These theses are supported by a detailed discussion of actual social research, including theories of agrarian revolution, organizational ecology, social theories of depression, and supply-demand explanations in economics. |
Contents
Causes confirmation and explanation | 58 |
Functionalism defended | 101 |
The failures of individualism | 142 |
A science of interpretation? | 191 |
Economics a test case | 222 |
Problems and prospects | 258 |
266 | |
279 | |
Other editions - View all
Philosophical Foundations of the Social Sciences: Analyzing Controversies in ... Harold Kincaid No preview available - 1996 |
Philosophical Foundations of the Social Sciences: Analyzing Controversies in ... Harold Kincaid No preview available - 1995 |
Common terms and phrases
abstract aggregate argue basic beliefs biology causal claims causal explanations causes cell biology ceteris paribus laws Chapter citing complex conceptual confirmed context correlations cross tests defend describe doubt ecology economics empirical ences evidence evolutionary evolutionary biology example exists in order explanatory fact factors fair tests functional explanations functionalist Hannan and Freeman holist hypotheses identify income individual behavior individualist mechanisms individualist theories involve kinds Kuhn laws of supply macroeconomic macrosociological meaning methodological individualism methods models multiple multiple realizations natural sciences neo-classical neo-classical economics nomic Nonetheless norms optimality arguments organizational ecology Paige Paige's persistence philosophers philosophy of science physical political positivists predictions presuppose problem questions Quine Quine's rational choice rational choice theory reasons reduction requires result role Rosenberg scientific virtues social entities social explanations social research social sciences social scientists social theory specific strategy supervenience supply and demand supply-and-demand tions traits unification variables well-confirmed