Contemporary Philosophy of Social Science : A Multicultural Approach

by Fay, Brian

• ISBN13: 9781557865380
• ISBN10: 1557865388
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1996-08-16
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Summary

This volume provides a lucid and distinct introduction to multiculturalism and the philosophy of social science. Distinct, engaging and timely 'multicultural' approach Clear, non-technical overview of the nature of social inquiry First volume of outstanding new "Contemporary Philosophy" series

Author Biography

Brian Fay is Professor of Philosophy at Wesleyan University, Connecticut. His publication include Social Theory and Political Practice (1975) and Critical Social Science (1987). He is Executive Editor of the Journal History and Theory.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	x
Introduction: A Multicultural Approach to the Philosophy of Social Science	1	(8)
1 Do You Have To Be One To Know One?	9	(21)
1.1 Solipsism	9	(3)
1.2 Knowing and Sharing Experiences	12	(5)
1.3 Knowing and Being	17	(7)
1.4 Knowing and Meaning	24	(3)
1.5 Summing Up	27	(3)
2 Do We Need Others To Be Ourselves?	30	(20)
2.1 Atomism	30	(2)
2.2 "The" Self	32	(7)
2.3 Self and Others	39	(8)
2.4 Summing Up	47	(3)
3 Does Our Culture or Society Make Us What We Are?	50	(22)
3.1 Holism	50	(3)
3.2 Difference and Group Membership	53	(2)
3.3 Culture	55	(8)
3.4 Society	63	(3)
3.5 Determination and Agency	66	(2)
3.6 Summing Up	68	(4)
4 Do People in Different Cultures Live in Different Worlds?	72	(20)
4.1 Perspectivism	72	(4)
4.2 Relativism	76	(6)
4.3 The Argument From Translation	82	(6)
4.4 Summing Up	88	(4)
5 Must We Assume Others Are Rational?	92	(20)
5.1 Rationalism	92	(3)
5.2 Reasons and Causes	95	(3)
5.3 Reason-explanations and Irrational Actions	98	(5)
5.4 Rationality in Reason-explanations	103	(2)
5.5 The Principle of Humanity	105	(5)
5.6 Summing Up	110	(2)
6 Must We Comprehend Others in Their Own Terms?	112	(24)
6.1 Interpretivism	112	(7)
6.2 Causality	119	(4)
6.3 Competence	123	(4)
6.4 Critique	127	(6)
6.5 Summing Up	133	(3)
7 Is the Meaning of Others' Behavior What They Mean by It?	136	(19)
7.1 Intentionalism	136	(5)
7.2 Gadamerian Hermeneutics	141	(6)
7.3 Two Dimensions of Meaning	147	(4)
7.4 Summing Up	151	(4)
8 Is Our Understanding of Others Essentially Historical?	155	(23)
8.1 Nomologicalism	155	(4)
8.2 Laws in Social Science	159	(7)
8.3 The Inadequacy of Nomological Explanations	166	(3)
8.4 Historicism	169	(3)
8.5 The Inadequacy of Genetic Explanations	172	(2)
8.6 Summing Up	174	(4)
9 Do We Live Stories or Just Tell Them?	178	(21)
9.1 Narrative Realism	178	(12)
9.2 Narrative Constructivism	190	(4)
9.3 Narrativism	194	(2)
9.4 Summing Up	196	(3)
10 Can We Understand Others Objectively?	199	(24)
10.1 Objectivism	199	(5)
10.2 Fallibilism	204	(8)
10.3 Critical Intersubjectivity	212	(4)
10.4 Accountability	216	(3)
10.5 Summing Up	219	(4)
11 Conclusion: What's to be Learned from a Multicultural Philosophy of Social Science?	223	(24)
11.1 Beyond Pernicious Dualisms	223	(5)
11.2 Interactionism	228	(7)
11.3 Recruitability and Engagement	235	(6)
11.4 Summing Up	241	(6)
Bibliography	247	(13)
Index	260