Philosophy of social science

"Philosophy of Social Science provides a tightly argued yet accessible introduction to the philosophical foundations of the human sciences, including economics, anthropology, sociology, political science, psychology, history, and the disciplines emerging at the intersections of these subjects with biology. Philosophy is unavoidable for social scientists because the choices they make in answering questions in their disciplines force them to take sides on philosophical matters. Conversely, the philosophy of social science is equally necessary for philosophers since the social and behavior sciences must inform their understanding of human action, norms, and social institutions. The fifth edition retains from previous editions an illuminating interpretation of the enduring relations between the social sciences and philosophy, and reflects on developments in social research over the past two decades that have informed and renewed debate in the philosophy of social science. An expanded discussion of philosophical anthropology and modern and postmodern critical theory is new for this edition. "--Machine generated contents note: Preface -- 1. What Is the Philosophy of Social Science? -- 2. The Methodological Divide: Naturalism Versus Interpretation -- 3. The Explanation of Human Action -- 4. Actions, Intentionality and the Mind/Body Problem -- 5. Behaviorism in the Behavioral Sciences -- 6. Problems of Rational Choice Theory -- 7. Social Psychology and the Construction of Society -- 8. Continental Philosophy of Social Science -- 9. Holism and Antireductionism in Sociology and Psychology -- 10. Functionalism as a Research Program -- 11. Sociobiology or the Standard Social Science Model? -- 12. Theories of Cultural Evolution -- 13. Research Ethics in Social Inquiry -- 14. Facts and Values in the Human Sciences -- 15. Social Science and the Enduring Questions of Philosophy -- Bibliography -- Index