Philosophy of the Social Sciences
Philosophical Theory and Scientific Practice

A unique discussion between philosophers and social scientists which extends the frontiers of the philosophy of the social sciences.

C. Mantzavinos (Edited by)

9780521739061, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 10 September 2009

344 pages, 1 map 1 table
22.9 x 15.3 x 1.7 cm, 0.55 kg

'Overall, this book contributes to reorienting the focus of the philosophy of the social sciences towards the actual theories and practices in the social sciences, thereby yielding some important ontological, methodological and pragmatic insights, many of which are relevant for economics.' The Journal of Economics and Philosophy

This volume is a unique contribution to the philosophy of the social sciences, presenting the results of cutting-edge philosophers' research alongside critical discussions by practicing social scientists. The book is motivated by the view that the philosophy of the social sciences cannot ignore the specific scientific practices according to which social scientific work is being conducted, and that it will be valuable only if it evolves in constant interaction with theoretical developments in the social sciences. With its unique format guaranteeing a genuine discussion between philosophers and social scientists, this thought-provoking volume extends the frontiers of the field. It will appeal to all scholars and students interested in the interplay between philosophy and the social sciences.

Introduction C. Mantzavinos
Part I. Basic Problems of Sociality: 1. Language and social ontology John R. Searle
Comment: De Rerum Natura: dragons of obliviousness and the science of social ontology Mark Turner
2. Shared agency Michael E. Bratman
Comment: Where is the social? Pierre Demeulenaere
3. The reality of group agents Philip Pettit
Comment: A note on group agents Diego Rios
Part II. Laws and Explanation in the Social Sciences: 4. Physicalism and the human sciences David Papineau
Comment: Reductionism in the human sciences: a philosopher's game Robert G. Shulman and Ian Shapiro
5. Complexity and explanation in the social sciences Sandra Mitchell
Comment: Conditional knowledge: an oxymoron? James Alt
6. The heterogeneous social: new thinking about the foundations of the social sciences Daniel Little
Comment: Causal mechanisms and generalizations Jack Knight
7. What is this thing called 'efficacy'? Nancy Cartwright
Comment: Randomized controlled trials and public policy Gerd Gigerenzer
Part III. How Philosophy and the Social Sciences Can Enrich Each Other: Three Examples: 8. Why do people cooperate as much as they do? James Woodward
Comment: Putting the problem of social order into perspective Werner Güth and Hartmut Kliemt
9. Situations against virtues: the situationist attack on virtue theory Ernest Sosa
Comment: Do people have character-traits? Steven Lukes
10. What kind of problem is the hermeneutic circle? C. Mantzavinos
Comment: Going in circles David-Hillel Ruben
Epilogue C. Mantzavinos.

Subject Areas: Politics & government [JP], Society & social sciences [J], Social & political philosophy [HPS], Philosophy [HP]