Contemporary Philosophy and Social Science: An Interdisciplinary Dialogue

by Michiru Nagatsu (Editor), Attilia Ruzzene (Editor)

Overview

How should we theorize about the social world? How can we integrate theories, models and approaches from seemingly incompatible disciplines? Does theory affect social reality?

This state-of-the-art collection addresses contemporary methodological questions and interdisciplinary developments in the philosophy of social science. Facilitating a mutually enriching dialogue, chapters by leading social scientists are followed by critical evaluations from philosophers of social science. This exchange showcases recent major theoretical and methodological breakthroughs and challenges in the social sciences, as well as fruitful ways in which the analytic tools developed in philosophy of science can be applied to understand these advancements.

The volume covers a diverse range of principles, methods, innovations and applications, including scientific and methodological pluralism, performativity of theories, causal inferences and applications of social science to policy and business. Taking a practice-orientated and interactive approach, it offers a new philosophy of social science grounded in and relevant to the emerging social science practice.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781474248754
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	05/30/2019
Pages:	408
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.94(d)

About the Author

Michiru Nagatsu is Associate Professor at Practical Philosophy and HELSUS (Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science) at the University of Helsinki, Finland.

Attilia Ruzzene is Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Bergamo, Italy.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations vii

List of Contributors ix

Preface xiii

Introduction Michiru Nagatsu Attilia Ruzzene 1

Part 1 The Plurality of Approaches, Disciplines, and Theories 9

Summary of Chapters 9

1 Integration and the Disunity of the Social Sciences Christophe Heintz Mathieu Charbonneau Jay Fogelman 11

Commentary: Plurality and Pluralisms for the Social Sciences Raffaella Campaner 29

2 The Eroding Artificial-Natural Distinction? Some Consequences for Ecology and Economics C. Tyler DesRoches S. Andrew Inkpen Tom L. Green 39

Commentary: Toward a Philosophy and Methodology for Interdisciplinary Research Michiru Nagatsu 59

3 Team Agency and Conditional Games Andre Hofmeyr Don Ross 67

Commentary: Explaining Prosocial Behavior: Team Reasoning or Social Influence? Cédric Paternotte 93

Part 2 From Methodological Choice to Methodological Mix 103

Summary of Chapters 103

4 The Methodologies of Behavioral Econometrics Glenn W. Harrison 107

Commentary: Reflections on Decision Research and Its Empiricism: Four Comments Inspired Harrison Nathaniel T. Wilcox 139

5 Reasons for Using Mixed Methods in the Evaluation of Complex Projects Michael Wookock 147

Commentary: Why Mixed Methods Are Necessary for Evaluating Any Policy Nancy Cartwright 173

6 From an Individual to a Holistic Lens: Reassessing Marketing Models to Deliver Impact Charlotte Vangsgaard 185

Commentary: Unity and Disunity in Consumer Behavior Research Attilia Ruzzene 201

7 The Fish Tank Complex of Social Modeling: On Space and Time in Understanding Collective Dynamics Tommaso Venturini 211

Commentary: Versioning and Structural Change Petri Ylikoski 231

8 Social Statistics Using Strategic Structuralism and Pluralism Wendy Olsen 237

Commentary: Heterogeneity, Plasticity, and Mechanisms: Comments on Olsen Daniel Little 263

Part 3 Explanation, Theorizing, Performativity 273

Summary of Chapters 273

9 Causal Mechanisms and Qualitative Causal Inference in the Social Sciences David Waldner 275

Commentary: An Alternative Hypothesis about Process Tracing: Comments on "Causal Mechanisms and Qualitative Causal Inference in the Social Sciences" Daniel Steel 301

10 How to Theorize? On the Changing Role and Meaning of Theory in the Social Sciences Mikael Carleheden 311

Commentary: Social Theory and Underdetermination: A Philosophical History and Reconstruction Stephen Turner 333

11 Assembling Economic Actors: Time-varying Rates and the New Electricity Consumer Daniel Breslau 341

Commentary: Assembling the Economic Actors Nicolas Brisset 365

Index 373

Editorial Reviews

The boundaries between the social sciences and philosophy are being re-traced. In this compilation, some insightful social scientists reflect on their methods in critical discussion with up-to-date philosophers. See for yourself where the future of social research will be.” —David Teira, Associate Professor of Philosophy, UNED, Spain

“An interesting volume that ingeniously expands on the belief that a fruitful interaction between philosophy and social science can only start from a carefully considered, genuine dialogue among researchers from both sides. An insightful resource for teaching at different levels of competence.” —Eleonora Montuschi, Associate Professor in Philosophy of Science, University Ca' Foscari of Venice, Italy

From the Publisher