Empiricism, Explanation and Rationality

An Introduction to the Philosophy of the Social Sciences

By Len & Roger Doyal & Harris

Price: $140.00

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About the Book

Originally published in 1986. All students of social science must confront a number of important philosophical issues. This introduction to the philosophy of the social sciences provides coherent answers to questions about empiricism, explanation and rationality. It evaluates contemporary writings on the subject which can be as difficult as they are important to understand. Each chapter has an annotated bibliography to enable students to pursue the issues raised and to assess for themselves the arguments of the authors.

Table of Contents

  1. The problems of empiricism. 2 Explanation in the natural sciences. 3 Explanation in the social sciences. 4 The social character of actions and persons. 5 Freedom, self-understanding & ideology. 6 Rationality, language and relativism. 7 What is wrong with relativism?. 8 Social structure and its moral evaluation. Bibliography. Index