Explanation in the Behavioural Sciences

A confrontation of views written by distinguished figures concerned with the behavioural and social sciences.

Robert Borger (Edited by), Frank Cioffi (Edited by)

9780521099059, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 22 May 1975

536 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 3 cm, 0.78 kg

There are sharp differences among psychologists, sociologists, philosophers and others concerned with the behavioural and social sciences, not simply about the adequacy of particular explanatory systems, but about the very forms of explanation appropriate in this field. The editors have therefore invited a number of distinguished contributors to bring their views into direct confrontation - each chapter takes the form of an exposition, a comment and a final reply by the first author. This volume was first published in 1970.

Editor's Preface
Notes on contributors
1. Reasons and Causes Stephen Toulmin
Comment R. S. Peters
Reply Stephen Toulmin
2. The explanation of purposive behaviour Charles Taylor
Comment Robert Borger
Reply Charles Taylor
3. Is the brain a physical system? N. S. Sutherland
Comment J. H. Grundy
Comment N. S. Sutherland
4. Conditioning and behaviour D. W. Hamlyn
Comment A. J. Watson
Reply D. W. Hamlyn
5. Imperfect rationality John Watkins
Comment Alan Donagan
Reply John Watkins
6. Understanding and explanation in sociology and social anthropology I. C. Jarvie
Comment Peter Winch
Reply I. C. Jarvie
7. Situational individualism and the emergent group-properties J. O. Wisdom
Comment Robert Brown
Reply J. O. Wisdom
8. The relevance of psychology to the explanation of social phenomena George C. Homans
Comment Peter M. Blau
Reply George C. Homans
9. The Skinnerian analysis of behaviour R. A. Boakes and M. S. Halliday
Comment Karl H. Pribram
Reply R. A. Boakes and M. S. Halliday
10. Explanation and the concept of personality H. J. Eysenck
Comment D. Bannister
Reply H. J. Eysenck
11. Problems of explanation in linguistics Noam Chomsky
Comment Max Black
Reply Noam Chomsky
12. Freud and the idea of a pseudo-science Frank Cioffi
Comment B. A. Farrell
Reply Frank Cioffi
Index.

Subject Areas: Sociology & anthropology [JH]