PH405
Philosophy of the Social Sciences
This information is for the 2021/22 session.
Teacher responsible
Prof. J. McKenzie Alexander
Availability
This course is available on the MSc in Economics and Philosophy, MSc in Philosophy and Public Policy, MSc in Philosophy of Science and MSc in Philosophy of the Social Sciences. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.
Course content
This course examines philosophical problems of social science concerning what societies are like and how scientists theorize about them. The first part of the course will focus on questions of scientific method about the nature of understanding and the kind of knowledge the social sciences should, or can, aim for; as well as on questions of ontology pertaining to the nature of the social world. The overarching goal is to provide an intellectual geography of the philosophy of the social sciences, to which students will refer in the second part of the course when specific philosophical issues will be closely analysed and discussed. Contents to be covered in the second term will be structured around three main themes: action, rationality and intelligibility; institutions, culture, and the relationship between mind and society; and the moral aims of the social sciences, as well as their role in just social change.
Teaching
10 hours of lectures and 15 hours of seminars in the MT. 10 hours of lectures and 15 hours of seminars in the LT.
This year, some or all of this teaching will take place online.
Formative coursework
Students will be expected to write a formative essay in Michaelmas.
Indicative reading
A detailed reading list will be provided at the beginning of the course. Indicative readings include: Nancy Cartwright and Eleanora Montuschi (eds.), Philosophy of the Social Sciences: a new introduction; Harold Kincard, John Dupré, and Alison Wylie (eds.), Value-Free Science: Ideals and Illusions; Jon Elster, Explaining Social Behaviour; John H. Miller and Scott Page, Complex Adaptive Systems; Dawn Langan Teele, Field Experiments and Their Critics: Essays on the Uses and Abuses of Experimentation in the Social Sciences; Alex Rosenberg, Philosophy of Social Science (Fifth edition); Harold Kincaid, Philosophical Foundations of the Social Sciences; Daniel Steel and Francesco Guala (eds.), The Philosophy of Social Science Reader; Michael Martin and Lee McIntyre (eds.), Readings in the Philosophy of Social Science.
Assessment
Exam (40%, duration: 3 hours).
Essay (25%, 2000 words), essay (25%, 2000 words) and presentation (10%) in the MT and LT.
Summative assessment for PH405 will consist of two essays, two presentations, and an exam.
Course selection videos
Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.
Student performance results
(2017/18 - 2019/20 combined)
| Classification | % of students |
|---|---|
| Distinction | 9.8 |
| Merit | 68.9 |
| Pass | 18 |
| Fail | 3.3 |
Important information in response to COVID-19
Please note that during 2021/22 academic year some variation to teaching and learning activities may be required to respond to changes in public health advice and/or to account for the differing needs of students in attendance on campus and those who might be studying online. For example, this may involve changes to the mode of teaching delivery and/or the format or weighting of assessments. Changes will only be made if required and students will be notified about any changes to teaching or assessment plans at the earliest opportunity.
Key facts
Department: Philosophy, Logic and Scientific Method
Total students 2020/21: 26
Average class size 2020/21: 13
Controlled access 2020/21: Yes
Value: One Unit
Personal development skills
- Self-management
- Team working
- Problem solving
- Communication
- Specialist skills
