Developments in the Methodology of Social Science

1. Front Matter

   Pages I-X

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2. General Methodology

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

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   2. A New Epitheoretical Analysis of Social Theories; A Reconstruction of their Background Knowledge Including a Model of Statistical Decision Theory

      • Werner Leinfellner

      Pages 3-43

   3. Theories and Phenomena

      • Frederick Suppe

      Pages 45-91

   4. Partial Interpretation and Microeconomics

      • Alexander Rosenberg

      Pages 93-109

   5. The Foundation of Science on Cognitive Mini-Models, with Applications to the German Methodenstreit and the Advent of Econometrics

      • Werner Meissner, Hermann Wold

      Pages 111-146

3. Methods for Laying the Foundations of Social Systems and Social Structures

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 147-147

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   2. Systems of Social Exchange

      • James S. Coleman

      Pages 149-173

   3. The Concept of Social Structure

      • Mario Bunge

      Pages 175-215

   4. Societies and Social Decision Functions

      • Antonio Camacho

      Pages 217-253

   5. Honing Occam’s Razor: A General System Theory Perspective on Social Science Methodology

      • John W. Sutherland

      Pages 255-284

4. Vagueness, Imprecision and Uncertainty in Social Laws and Forecasts

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 285-285

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   2. Toward Fuzzy Reasoning in the Behavioral Sciences

      • Hans-Werner Gottinger

      Pages 287-308

   3. Evolutionary Laws in the Social Sciences

      • Stephen Gale

      Pages 309-336

   4. Methodological Analysis of Imprecision in the Assessment of Personal Probabilities

      • Raymond H. Burros

      Pages 337-362

   5. The Necessity, Sufficiency and Desirability of Experts as Value Forecasters

      • Gordon Welty

      Pages 363-379

   6. Rational Choice Models and Self-Fulfilling and Self-Defeating Prophecies

      • Bernard Grofman

      Pages 381-383

5. Methodology of Statistics and Hypothesis Testing

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 385-385

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   2. Statistical Probabilities: Single Case Propensities vs. Long-Run Frequencies

      • James H. Fetzer

      Pages 387-397

   3. Variety of Objects as a Parameter for Experimentation: An Extension of Carnap’s Inductive Logic

      • Eckehart Köhler

      Pages 399-416

Philosophy of Science deals with the problem, 'What is science?' It seems that the answer to this question can only be found if we have an answer to the question, 'How does science function?' Thus, the study of the methodology of social sciences is a prominent factor in any analysis of these sciences. The history of philosophy shows clearly that the answer to the question, 'How does science function?' was the conditio sine qua non of any kind of philosophy of science, epistemology and even of logic. Aristotle, Hume, Kant, Mill, Russell, to mention a few classical authors, clearly emphasized the primacy of methodology of science for any kind of philosophy of science. One may even state that analyses of the presup­ positions, the foundations, the aims, goals and purposes of science are nothing else than analyses of their general and specific formal, as well as practical and empirical methods. Thus, the whole program of any phi­ losophy of science is dependent on the analysis of the methods of sciences and the establishment of their criteria. If the study of scientific method is the predominant factor in the philosophy of science, then all the other problems will depend on the outcome of such a study. For example, the old question of a possible unity of all social sciences will be brought to a solution by the study of the presuppositions, the methods, as well as of the criteria germane to all social sciences.

• ETA
• German
• Immanuel Kant
• Methodenstreit
• assessment
• decision theory
• experiment
• logic
• methodology
• philosophy
• rational choice
• science
• social systems
• statistics
• systems theory

• Department of Philosophy, University of Nebraska, USA

  Werner Leinfellner, Eckehart Köhler

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