Varieties of Social Explanation : An Introduction to the Philosophy of Social Science

"A judicious, balanced, and lucid introduction, covering all the important issues on this contested terrain. It deserves to be a widely used text."

--Michael Taylor, University of Washington

Westview Press, Inc Web Site

March, 2000

Professor Little presents an introduction to the philosophy of social science with an emphasis on the central forms of explanation in social science: rational-intentional, causal, functional, structural, materialist, statistical and interpretive. The book is very strong on recent developments, particularly in its treatment of rational choice theory, microfoundations for social explanation, the idea of supervenience, functionalism, and current discussions of relativism. Of special interest is Professor Little's insight that, like the philosophy of natural science, the philosophy of social science can profit from examining actual scientific examples. Throughout the book, philosophical theory is integrated with recent empirical work on both agrarian and industrial society drawn from political science, sociology, geography, anthropology, and economics.

Clearly written and well structured, this text provides the logical and conceptual tools necessary for dealing with the debates at the cutting edge of contemporary philosophy of social science. It will prove indispensible for philosophers, social scientists and their students.

Introduction


Models Of Explanation
Causal Analysis
Rational Choice Theory
Interpretation Theory
Variations And Elaborations
Functional and Structural Explanation
Materialism
Economic Anthropology
Statistical Analysis
Current Controversies
Methodological Individualism
Relativism
Toward Methodological Pluralism