Pluralism and Partnerships

Notes on Contributors

Health and human behavior: areas of interest common to the social and medical sciences.

The conceptual dichotomy of Erklaren and Verstehen (explaining vs. understanding) has a revealing dual status. On the one hand, it has something of an antiquated air to it, as we loosely associate its origins with the work of Wilhelm Dilthey and other nineteenth-century German philosophers who are not widely read any more, at least not within contemporary Anglo-American history and philosophy of the human sciences. At the same time, however, remnants of the dichotomy still come up in various guises and in various areas of contemporary philosophy and philosophy of science. One example is the long-standing debate over the logical status of action explanations (“reasons vs. causes”) in philosophy of mind (Davidson 1980), and associated issues of “teleological explanations” and the explanatory status of laws of nature in the philosophy of the human sciences (Dray 1957; Hempel 1965; von Wright 1971). Another is the question of whether the subject matter of the social sciences requires a special type of interpretative, hermeneutic, or perhaps even empathetic, “access” (Collingwood 1946; Winch 1964; Taylor [1971] 1985). More recently, there has been renewed interest in the question of how to explicate our capacity to interpret another person’s actions (see the recent suggestion that the “theory-theory” vs. “simulation theory” distinction is similar to some aspects of the Erklaren/Verstehen distinction) (Kogler and Stueber 2000). And within mainstream analytical philosophy of the social sciences, one of the central topics has long been the question of whether social facts/events can be reduced to the explanations of the actions of individuals (e.g., Kincaid 1997), raising questions about the units at which explanatory and/or interpretive efforts ought to be directed. (“individualism” vs. “holism”). This question can be traced back to early twentieth-century debates in economics and other emerging social sciences (Udehn 2001).

In theory, sources of knowledge might also originate from the outcomes of reflection or contemplation rather than just from experimental or study results. A philosopher engages in reflection or contemplation when attempting to understand or identify the core of something having to do with legal principles. What is meant by justice is the most important philosophical topic when discussing the nature of justice. That is a question that pertains to the field of science philosophy. According to its core, the philosophy of science is a branch of general philosophy that provides responses to a number of inquiries regarding the nature of science. Science philosophy examines the philosophical underpinnings, presumptions, and implications of science, including the social and natural sciences. Philosophy of science studies the philosophical foundations, assumptions and implications of science, including the natural sciences and social sciences. Philosophy of science is closely related to epistemology and ontology.

While some social scientists see multi-method research (MMR) as a promising strategy for strong causal inference, others argue that it does little to strengthen the validity of research. This paper offers a systematic review of how MMR has been used in mainstream International Relations (IR) and specifically in security studies. Using the TRIP Journal Article Database and Web of Science citation data, I examine whether MMR has reached its full potential. MMR has grown in prominence since the 2000s. Scholars use it most often to examine domestic rather than interstate issues. They cite MMR articles less than they cite quantitative single-method articles and about as often as they cite qualitative single-method research. This suggests that MMR is not more influential, nor perceived as more persuasive. However, this gap has decreased in recent years. The study provides insights into IR at the research design and disciplinary levels, the utility of MMR, and knowledge accumulation in social science.

Previous articleNext article No AccessREVIEWSThe Concept and the Role of the Model in Mathematics and Natural and Social Sciences. Proceedings of the Colloquium sponsored by the Division of Philosophy of Sciences of the International Union of History and Philosophy of Sciences organised at Utrecht, January 1960. D. Reidel, Dordrecht-Holland, 1961, Pp. 194.E. H. HUTTENE. H. HUTTEN Search for more articles by this author PDFPDF PLUS Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail SectionsMoreDetailsFiguresReferencesCited by The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science Volume 14, Number 54August 1963 Society: The British Society for the Philosophy of Science Views: 1Total views on this site Views: 1Total views on this site Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1093/bjps/XIV.54.166 Views: 1Total views on this site © 1963 by The Author. All rights reserved.PDF download Crossref reports no articles citing this article.

This study examines the relationship of holistic social science to the field of Al-Qur'an interpretation. Holistic social science in question is social science based on three aspects in the philosophy of science or the collaboration of various scholars related to the subject of interpretation. The research method used is ontological analysis from the (social) philosophy of science and related to the epistemological character of the thematic interpretation. Compiling and understanding interpretations related to certain scientific fields, including the social field, without the help of a philosophy of science is something that is not sufficient to dialogue reality with the context of the Qur’an verses. Therefore, it is not enough for the interpreters of the Qur'an to rely only on scientific data from the research of the Kantian paradigm without verifying them in a more contextual and actual study based on the intended holistic paradigm. Philosophy and related social sciences at the same time or the cooperation of various social sciences is a holistic paradigm that is needed in exploring an interpretation related to the subject of interpretation or the problem to be dialogued with verses, especially in the field of thematic interpretation. For this holistic paradigm can have functions: First, the position of philosophy of science can offer a proportional dialogue between text and context. Second, the collaboration of science, philosophy, and art can make the social sciences in particular not forget their basic goals and interests, namely: to create a better human life and to make it liberating or emancipatory interpretations.

Patrick Baert believes that although there are many capabilities in the field of philosophy of social sciences, pragmatism has not come to its proper place yet due to lack of enough attention on behalf of philosophers. He believes that pragmatism can be used properly in this field, and new prospects in social sciences may be discovered by its assistance. In his Philosophy of the Social Sciences: Towards Pragmatism and due to his criticisms on social sciences and philosophy of social sciences, Baert claims that one of his purposes in the book is to develop a new approach in philosophy of social sciences employing pragmatism. This article is going to explore his claim; before discussing the content, it has scanned all the chapters and analyzed Persian structure and translation of the book. At last and through content review and scrutiny of author’s claim it is concluded the book achievement is far from author’s assertion and his suggestions have no meaningful difference with expressions of hermeneutics, interpreters, instrumentalists, and followers of critical school and Baert have innovated nothing new and commenced no novel path for social sciences.

Wicked Philosophy. Philosophy of Science and Vision Development for Complex Problems provides an overview of the philosophy of the natural sciences, the social sciences and the humanities, and explores how insights from these three domains can be integrated to help find solutions for the complex, 'wicked' problems we are currently facing. The core of a new science-based vision is complexity thinking, offering a meta-position for navigating alternative paradigms and making informed choices of resources for projects involving complex problems. The book also brings design thinking into problem-solving and teaching, fostering construction of an integrative approach that bridges structure and action amplified by transdisciplinary engagement of stakeholders in society.

Wicked Philosophy. Philosophy of Science and Vision Development for Complex Problems provides an overview of the philosophy of the natural sciences, the social sciences and the humanities, and explores how insights from these three domains can be integrated to help find solutions for the complex, ‘wicked’ problems we are currently facing. The core of a new science-based vision is complexity thinking, offering a meta-position for navigating alternative paradigms and making informed choices of resources for projects involving complex problems. The book also brings design thinking into problem-solving and teaching, fostering construction of an integrative approach that bridges structure and action amplified by transdisciplinary engagement of stakeholders in society.

El artículo de Fritz Machlup de 1955 «El problema de la verificación en economía» —texto clásico de la epistemología de la economía— se presenta no sólo como un modo de superar el debate acerca de la verificación empírica de los supuestos de la teoría económica, sino también como ocasión para introducir al lector en cuestiones fundamentales de filosofía de las ciencias e iniciarse en la epistemología de la economía. Se distinguen, por un lado, temas de filosofía de las ciencias y, por el otro, de filosofía de las ciencias sociales, y en particular de la economía. En cuanto a la filosofía de las ciencias se analiza: el método hipotético deductivo, la confirmación, y la noción de verdad y la realidad. En cuanto a la filosofía de las ciencias sociales y de la economía: se trata el debate de los aprioristas vs. los ultraempiristas en economía, el método hipotético deductivo en economía, la testeabilidad de los supuestos fundamentales, la fundamentación filosófica del supuesto de racionalidad y su testeabilidad y otras predicciones en economía.

What data counts in policymaking and programming evaluation – Relevant data sources for triangulation according to main epistemologies and philosophies within social science

The Economics of Scientific Misconduct explores episodes of misconduct in the natural and biomedical sciences and replication failure in economics and psychology over the past half-century. Here scientific misconduct is considered from the perspective of a single discipline such as economics likely for the first time in intellectual history. Research misconduct has become an important concern across many natural, medical, and social sciences, including economics, over the past half-century. Initially, a mainstream economic approach to science and scientific misconduct draws from conventional microeconomics and the theories of Becker, Ehrlich, and C. S. Peirce’s "economy of research." Then the works of Peirce and Thorstein Veblen from the 19th century point toward contemporary debates over statistical inference in econometrics and the failure of recent macroeconomic models. In more contemporary economics, clashes regarding discrimination and harassment have led to a Code of Professional Conduct from the American Economic Association and a Code of Ethics from one of its members. The last chapter considers research ethics matters related to the COVID-19 pandemic. There has been an explosion of research and some retractions. More generally, a concern with research ethics contributes to scientific progress by making some of its most difficult problems more transparent and understandable and thus possibly more surmountable. This book offers valuable insights for students and scholars of research ethics across the sciences, philosophy of science and social science, and economic theory.

The feminist movement has suggested that women, because of their socialization, tend to choose jobs imposed by the culture, such as psychology, child care, and social work, while careers such as engineering are seen as more masculine. We measured the numbers of women attending Colombian universities and what categories and disciplines they were enrolled in. Our aim was to either corroborate or refute the feminist hypothesis and to examine whether women’s university paths correspond to the theory that predicts there will be fewer women in highresponsibility jobs and many more serving in administrative functions without decision-making power. In addition to measuring how slowly or quickly the female presence in university research is being established, our results also allow us to discuss and evaluate the progress of females in academic work. Government promotion of scientific research in Colombia began with the creation of the Colombian Institute for the Development of the Science and the Technology (COLCIENCIAS) in 1968. In 1991 COLCIENCIAS began collecting data about the scientific community. In this paper we focus on the gender distribution among group leaders and the production of research results. It is worth noting that the basic information used is incomplete because the data were given freely and do not cover 100% of Colombian research groups. Nevertheless, we think the data are adequate for estimating gender participation in research in Colombia. The total number of people dedicated to research in the groups is 5429 in the examined period, 1998–2002. COLCIENCIAS data show that the number of Colombian women participating in scientific research steadily grew from 34% in 1998 to 40% in 2002. Growth has occurred in all scientific fields, with the medical sciences registering the biggest increase. It seems that most Colombian research groups are composed mainly of men, with women participating as parttime research assistants only. However, in 29% of the groups the group leaders are women. Taking into account only master’s- and PhD-level researchers, women constitute 18%. As commonly known, engineering is dominated by men, while women have gained participation in medical and social sciences. In the medical and social sciences disciplines, some groups consisted only of women. Among the 42% of researchers who are women, only a small portion are at the level of researcher or PhD student, while the percentage of men and women at the level of research assistant and support worker is equal. Twice as many men than women are PhD students. The majority of women working as assistants are between 26 and 35 years old; as age increases, the number of women decreases compared with the number of men. The highest title usually found among researchers in any discipline is the master’s degree. In the medical and social sciences, where there are more women than men at the undergraduate level, there are fewer women than men (38% women) at the specialist, master’s, and PhD levels. Why do women not reach the higher levels of master’s and PhD? Women increased their participation in PhD groups during the 1990s, mainly in the social and basic sciences, especially in cellular biology, biochemistry, and related areas such as biotechnology, applied microbiology, education and teaching research, languages, and anthropology.

This study examined the classes of medical humanities and social sciences in premedical and medical colleges. We counted the number of courses and credits of medical humanities and social sciences in all the medical schools from 1990 to 2002, with reference to "The present condition of medical school education " published by the Korean Council of Deans of Medical college. Categorized are medical ethics, medical history, medical law, behavioral science, medical sociology, health policy and management, and others (Doctor-patient relationships, economics, religion, art, music, literature in medicine). We excluded general classes of humanities and social sciences. Average numbers of courses and credits in 1990 were 0.61, 1.26 and in 2002 were 1.71, 3.34, respectively in premedical schools. In medical schools, the number of courses increased from 1.79 to 4.15 and average credits increased from 1.96 to 5.36. Average numbers of courses have increased and have shown a rapid increase since 1998. In 1990, most of the classes of medical humanities and social sciences were on medical history and behavioral science, whereas in 2002, there were more diverse classes. Major change was increase of the number of classes and credits of medical ethics and medical sociology. Private schools opened much more courses of medical humanities and social sciences than public schools in premedical courses but in medical courses there were no significant differences. Numbers of courses showed no differences by years of foundation of each school. In conclusion, the number of courses of medical humanities and social sciences has increased over about ten years. This increase was caused by effort of Korean researchers of medical education reflecting the worldwide trend. In addition, medical practice has changed since strike of doctors on governmental drug policy in 2000, which caused doctors to newly recognize the importance of the classes on medical humanities and social sciences in medical education.