The Philosophy of Social Science: An Introduction
(Part of the Cambridge Introductions to Philosophy Series)
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Book Overview
This new interdisciplinary textbook by Martin Hollis offers an exceptionally clear and concise introduction to the philosophy of social science. It unearths central philosophical problems underlying the standard ways of thinking about social institutions and social actions, leading the reader to reflect upon the nature of scientific method itself. Is the aim to explain the social world after the manner of the natural world, or to understand it from within? Writing in his characteristically clear and incisive prose, Martin Hollis reveals the crucial role to be played by philosophy in the study of the social sciences.
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:0521447801
ISBN13:9780521447805
Release Date:September 1994
Publisher:Cambridge University Press
Length:277 Pages
Weight:0.89 lbs.
Dimensions:0.5" x 5.4" x 8.4"
Related Subjects
Humanities Philosophy Politics & Social Sciences Social Science Social Sciences SociologyCustomer Reviews
2 ratings
The Ontology & Epistemology Behind the Methods
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 22 years ago
Hollis's book provides a sorely needed corrective to the common but unfortunate assumption that "method" is distinct from "theory". Through a series of examples, allegories, and histories, the author illustrates the differences in ontology (ways of being) and epistemology (ways of knowing) that inform how research is done in the social sciences. Hollis's prose succeeds in bridging the gap between the abstract and the concrete better than many expositions on the philosophy of social science. I enjoy assigning it to my research methods students to remind them of the philosophy that motivates the quantitative and qualitative methods they are studying.
comprehensive introduction to social sciences
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 24 years ago
Great stuff for researchers, be they young or somewhat older. The book reveals the underlying rationale of a lot of confusion that is going around in the social sciences. By outlining the history of social sciences and concurrently looking at the basic assumptions of subsequent conflicting scientific views, Hollis enhances the cohesion and credibility of the field of social sciences. Though not easy to consume, this is an exciting book for all the investigative out there who pretend to be able to talk with authority about the philosophy of social sciences...
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