Naturalism and Social Science: A Post-Empiricist Philosophy of Social ScienceThis 1979 text addresses the ways in which the dominant theories in large areas of Western social science have been subject to strong criticisms, particularly of their supposed philosophical deficiencies. In the philosophy of science, this resulted in empiricist views being replaced by an emphasis on the potential obstinacy of theory in the face of the empirical world. After introducing this contemporary philosophy of science, Dr Thomas uses it to argue that social study can both retain the natural scientific commitment to the constraint of the external world and assimilate the sorts of philosophical criticisms that were made of the old social scientific theories. In particular, he shows that social study understood in terms of the new philosophy of science can give an account of the former's distinctive concerns with issues of the meaning and value of social life. Dr Thomas supports his abstract arguments by detailed case studies. |
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Naturalism and Social Science: A Post-Empiricist Philosophy of Social Science David Thomas No preview available - 1980 |
Naturalism and Social Science: A Post-Empiricist Philosophy of Social Science David Thomas No preview available - 1980 |
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accept action actors analysis argues argument basic basis behaviour beliefs causal chapter claim commitment common sense concepts conceptualised context Cornerville debate dialectical materialism discussion distinctive Durkheim's elements empirical generalisations empiricism empiricist ethnomethodology evaluative example exclusive paradigm explanandum explanations fact fact-value distinction framework fundamental hermeneutic historical materialism human nature idea ideology immature implications interpretation issue Kuhn Kuhn's Kuhnian language Mannheim Marx Marxist ments metaphysics moral natural science natural scientific naturalistic social science non-naturalistic normal science notion objective meanings observer ontology partly determined phenomena philosophy of science philosophy of social political possible post-empiricist predictions problems psychological question reason relevant religion religious role science and common science's scientist Secondly social science-common sense social scientific theory social study society sociological paradigm sociology of religion Soviet sociology Soviet Union specific structure terms and statements theoretical thesis thought tion types understanding value-laden values Winch