The SAGE Handbook of the Philosophy of Social Sciences (Sage Handbooks)

- what is the relationship between the social sciences and the natural sciences? - where do today′s dominant approaches to doing social science come from? - what are the main fissures and debates in contemporary social scientific thought? - how are we to make sense of seemingly contrasting approaches to how social scientists find out about the world and justify their claims to have knowledge of it? In this exciting handbook, Ian Jarvie and Jesús Zamora-Bonilla have put together a wide-ranging and authoritative overview of the main philosophical currents and traditions at work in the social sciences today. Starting with the history of social scientific thought, this handbook sets out to explore that core fundamentals of social science practice, from issues of ontology and epistemology to issues of practical method. Along the way it investigates such notions as paradigm, empiricism, postmodernism, naturalism, language, agency, power, culture, and causality. Bringing together in one volume leading authorities in the field from around the world, this book will be a must-have for any serious scholar or student of the social sciences. This Handbook Provides A Comprehensive View Of The Fundamental Philosophical And Methodological Problems Characteristic Of The Social Sciences, As Well As Of The Main Approaches And School Of Thought Within The Discipline. It Is A Reference For Researchers And Teachers To Employ In Their Investigations And Lectures. Pt. 1. The Development Of The Philosophy Of Social Science -- 1. The Philosophy Of Social Science From Mandeville To Mannheim / Joseph Agassi -- 2. Continental Philosophies Of The Social Sciences / David Teira -- 3. The Philosophy Of Social Science In The Twentieth Century: Analytic Traditions: Reflections On The Rationalitatstreit / Paul Roth -- Pt. 2. Central Issues In Social Ontology -- 4. Naturalism: The Place Of Society In Nature / Don Ross -- 5. Language And Society / Frank Hindriks -- 6. Social Minds / Laurence Kaufmann -- 7. Rational Agency / Fred D'agostino -- 8. Individualism, Collective Agency And The Micro-macro Relation / Alban Bouvier -- 9. Rules, Norms, And Commitments / Kai Spiekermann -- 10. Systems Theory / Andreas Pickel -- 11. The Concept Of Culture As An Ontological Paradox / Angel Diaz De Rada -- 12. Power And Social Class In The Twenty-first Century / Daniel Little -- 13. Causality, Causal Models, And Social Mechanisms / Daniel Steel -- Pt. 3 A Philosopher's Guide To Social Science Paradigms -- 14. Rational Choice Theory / Cedric Paternotte -- 15. Game Theory / Giacomo Bonanno -- 16. Social Networks / Yves Zenou. 17. Normative Criteria Of Social Choice / Antoinette Baujard -- 18. Analytical Sociology / Petri Ylikoski -- 19. Institutions / C. Mantzavinos -- 20. Evolutionary Approaches / Geoffrey Hodgson -- 21. Functionalism And Structuralism / Anthony King -- 22. Phenomenology, Hermeneutics, And Ethnomethodology / Hans-herbert Kogler -- 23. Pragmatism And Symbolic Interactionism / Alex Dennis -- 24. Social Constructionism, Postmodernism And Deconstructionism / Veronique Mottier -- 25. Theories Of Culture, Cognition, And Action / Sun-ki Chai -- 26. Communicative Action And Critical Theory / Martin Morris -- Pt. 4. Methodology: Assessing And Using Social Theories -- 27. Facts, Values, And Objectivity / Heather Douglas -- 28. Idealised Representations, Inferential Devices And Cross-disciplinary Tools: Theoretical Models In Social Sciences / Jaakko Kuorikoski -- 29. Empirical Evidence: Its Nature And Sources / Julian Reiss -- 30. Experiments / Francesco Guala -- 31. Mathematics And Statistics In The Social Sciences / Jan Sprenger -- 32. Artificial Worlds And Agent-based Simulation / Till Grune-yanoff -- 33. Explanation In The Social Sciences / Erik Weber -- 34. Prediction / Gregor Betz -- 35. Science And Technology Studies And Social Epistemology: The Struggle For Normativity In Social Theories Of Knowledge / Steve Fuller -- 36. Expert Judgement / Jesus Zamora-bonilla -- 37. Social Technology / Anne Beaulieu -- Epilgoue: Rationality In The Social Sciences: Bridging The Gap / Jesus Zamora-bonilla. Edited By Ian C. Jarvie And Jesús Zamora-bonilla. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. What is the relationship between the social sciences and the natural sciences? Where do today's dominant approaches to doing social science come from? What are the main fissures and debates in contemporary social scientific thought? How are we to make sense of seemingly contrasting approaches to how social scientists find out about the world and justify their claims to have knowledge of it? In this exciting handbook, Ian Jarvie and Jesus Zamora-Bonilla have put together a wide-ranging and authoritative overview of the main philosophical currents and traditions at work in the social sciences today. Starting with the history of social scientific thought, this handbook sets out to explore that core fundamentals of social science practice, from issues of ontology and epistemology to issues of practical method. Along the way it investigates such notions as paradigm, empiricism, postmodernism, naturalism, language, agency, power, culture, and causality. Bringing together in one volume leading authorities in the field from around the world, this book will be a must-have for any serious scholar or student of the social sciences