Department: Philosophy
Description: Philosophical issues raised by and relevant to the scientific study of human behavior.
Credit Hours: 3
Dates: 08/19/2024 - 12/07/2024
Location: Adlai E. Stevenson Hall 131 (STV 131)
Instructor: Christopher Horvath
Class Notes: COURSE DESCRIPTION: Are you curious about the way we understand and investigate the social world? Do you wonder how our beliefs, behaviors, and societies are studied and interpreted? This course offers a comprehensive overview of the key concepts, methodologies, and debates, within the philosophy of social science, such as: The nature of social explanation and causation, including the role of laws, models, and mechanisms in social science. The relationship between individual agency and social structure, and the ways in which social phenomena emerge from the interactions of individuals. The significance of interpretation, meaning, and understanding in social scientific inquiry, and the challenges of reconciling subjective experiences with objective analysis. The role of values, interests, and biases in shaping social scientific research, and the ethical implications of different methodological approaches. Through a combination of lectures and discussions, students will deepen their understanding of the philosophical principles that underpin social science research. By critically engaging with the materials in this course, students will develop the analytical skills and conceptual framework necessary to understand and evaluate different approaches to studying human societies and behaviors. Whether you are a student of philosophy, or of sociology, anthropology, economics, or any other social science discipline, this course will provide you with a solid grounding in the philosophical principles that inform your field of study.
Textbook Special Instructions: Paperback of digital versions preferred.