Philosophy of the Social Sciences

Introduction to Argumentation and Philosophy of Social Sciences or Introduction to Philosophy of Science. It is recommended that basic studies in philosophy are completed before the course. 

By the end of the course, the student will be familiar with the nature of social reality, the structuring of social action, and the philosophical questions concerning the principles of social science knowledge production, and will have mastered the main arguments related to them. The student will identify key themes in social scientific practice and be able to apply the related philosophical concepts and distinctions: theories of the nature of scientific reasoning, scientific explanation and causality, rationality and understanding of action, the role of the individual and structures in social scientific theory (the individualism-holism debate), and issues related to the political and normative dimensions of social scientific knowledge.

Exam literature is agreed with the examiner by selecting suitable books from the following list:

• Risjord M: Philosophy of Social Science: A Contemporary Introduction
  And ONE of the following
  
• Elster J: Explaining Social Behavior
• Gilbert M: On Social Facts
• Pettit P: The Common Mind
• Mele A: The Philosophy of Action, ja Henderson D: Interpretation and Explanation in the Human Science
• Searle J: The Construction of Social Reality ja Bicchieri C: The Grammar of Society: The Nature and Dynamics of Social Norms

ImplementationThe lecture course is usually held in the autumn semester... Students can also take a literature examination in the Examinarium.

Assessment methods and criteria

Target group

Timing