PHIL 357: Philosophy of the Social Sciences

PHIL 357-001: Philosophy Soc Sciences
(Spring 2020)

04:30 PM to 07:10 PM R

Section Information for Spring 2020

Fulfills a requirement for the PPE concentration; or, fulfills the requirement for a course in the analytic tradition for the philosophy major 

The social sciences play a prominent role in policymaking and public life. What are the nature, scope, and limits of the knowledge and understanding generated by the social sciences? How is this knowledge and understanding achieved, and of what sort of objects is it?

Traditionally, these questions have been approached by contrasting the social sciences with the natural sciences, which were taken to be better understood and often just better. In the last decade, philosophers of social science have come to approach these questions as they arise within the social sciences themselves in all their variety, with results that are both exciting and far more relevant to grappling with how the social sciences do and should contribute to our lives and our understating of ourselves, others, and society. In this course, we explore some of these new developments in the philosophy of social science, including questions of objectivity, social ontology, research methods, and evidence.

Course Information from the University Catalog

Credits: 3

Philosophical issues relating to competing methodologies for the social sciences. Analysis and critique of mainstream positivism and behaviorism; paradigm theory and scientific revolutions; interpretive understanding and hermeneutical science; phenomenology and the social construction of reality; ethnomethodology and situational meaning; analytic philosophy and action theory; the "idea" of a social science; sociology of knowledge and theory of ideology; and Western Marxism and critical theory. Limited to three attempts.
Recommended Prerequisite: 3 credits of philosophy, or permission of instructor.
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.

The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes.