Explanation and Understanding in the Human Sciences
Nonfiction, Social & Cultural Studies, Political Science, International, Foreign Legal Systems, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy
| Author: | Gurpreet Mahajan | ISBN: | 9780199088676 |
| Publisher: | OUP India | Publication: | August 2, 2011 |
| Imprint: | OUP India | Language: | English |
| Author: | Gurpreet Mahajan |
| ISBN: | 9780199088676 |
| Publisher: | OUP India |
| Publication: | August 2, 2011 |
| Imprint: | OUP India |
| Language: | English |
Social scientists explain events by identifying reasons and causes. Occasionally they weave a series of events into a historical narrative. What is entailed in each kind of explanation? What form of explanation is adequate for the social sciences? In this lucid book, Gurpreet Mahajan surveys each of the major forms of inquiry—hermeneutic understanding, narrative, reason-action, and causal explanation—to examine how each method changes our perceptions of social reality. The third edition includes a new Preface that discusses some recent shifts in the conceptualization of the social sciences.
Social scientists explain events by identifying reasons and causes. Occasionally they weave a series of events into a historical narrative. What is entailed in each kind of explanation? What form of explanation is adequate for the social sciences? In this lucid book, Gurpreet Mahajan surveys each of the major forms of inquiry—hermeneutic understanding, narrative, reason-action, and causal explanation—to examine how each method changes our perceptions of social reality. The third edition includes a new Preface that discusses some recent shifts in the conceptualization of the social sciences.
