Philosophy of Social Science: The Methods, Ideals and Politics of Social Inquiry / Edition 1

by Michael Root

Overview

This book is a critical introduction to the philosophy of social science. While most social scientists maintain that the social sciences should stand free of politics, this book argues that they should be politically partisan. Root offers a clear description and provocative criticism of many of the methods and ideals that guide research and teaching in the social sciences.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780631190424
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	12/08/1993
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	5.96(w) x 8.98(h) x 0.68(d)

About the Author

Michael Root is Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Minnesota.

Table of Contents

Introduction.

1. The Liberal Ideal.

2. Max Weber and the Methodology of the Social Sciences.

3. Theories of Development in Psychology and Political Science.

4. Functional Theories in Sociology and Biology.

5. Rational Choice Theories in Positive and Normative Economics.

6. Collecting Data in the Social Sciences.

7. Sorting Data into Kinds.

8. Explaining the Data.

9. The Fact/Vale Distinction.

10. Social Science and Perfectionism.

Bibliography.

Editorial Reviews

"This is a very attractive book. It is exceedingly well written. It is well organised; filled with interesting examples; and is quite comprehensive in scope. It contains any number of illuminating observations. Most importantly, its subject is significant, it keeps this subject in focus throughout, and it proposes its own distinctive approach to it." Brian Fay, Wesleyan University

"Raises so many fascinating and important questions in the philosophies of the social sciences." Marthe Atwater Chandler, Ethics

From the Publisher