Preview

Theoretical Approaches of the Social Sciences

Best Essays
Open Document
Open Document
3483 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Theoretical Approaches of the Social Sciences
PHILOSOPHY OF SOCIAL SCIENCE

Theoretical approaches in the social sciences – for example, behaviorism, functionalism, hermeneutics – have a perspectival nature. Perspectives have their own way of describing social sciences and may be dangerous for any social institution (Blinov, 2010:21). Philosophy’s aim is to question beliefs and opinions in the social science disciplines but also these disciplines can be politically innocent and neutral institutions by not favouring any particular practices or results in group or individual perspectives (Blinov, 2010:6). In sociology, many different points of view/theories exist (Sargent, 1996:xiv). Theories begin with efforts to resolve unresolved experiences by leading towards a commitment of self awareness to achieve change. All ideas and structures are subject to examination by the social sciences by being critical or sceptical of what is put in front us by praxis on the strengths or weakness of the event. Theoretical approaches are foundational in the sense that initial harmless perspectives can lead to reckless applications by a social scientist towards relativism in their search for the truth.
“A social science perspective is a system of descriptive terms which highlights some features which are especially likely to be useful in accomplishing the purposes of the social sciences”(Blinov, 2010:29). It is this general view on theoretical approaches that gives innumerable features to relationships people create with the world. A social science perspective classifies and can identify differences by categorising theoretical approaches or types sociologically. Perspectives in the social sciences are about the search for knowledge. Perspectives in the social sciences outline the potential harm that knowledge can carry and how knowledge can lead to destruction by discovering their own needs and interests by rational thought processes that are trying to justify beliefs in social science perspectivism claims and the struggle to do



References: Bilton, T, Bonnett, K, Jones, P, Lawson, T, Skinner, D, Stanworth, M and Webster,A, 2002. Introductory Sociology, 4th Edition. Palgrave Macmillian Publishing. Blinov, A, 2010 Blinov, A, 2010. PHIL 323 LECTURE NOTES, Philosophy of Social Science. University of New England, Semester 1, 2010. Dawson, Graham, Philosophy, Vol 60, No 233 (July 1985), p 373- 380. Accessed from J Stor. Fay, Brian, 1996. Contemporary Philosophy of Social Science. A Multicultural Approach: Do People in Different Cultures Live in Different Worlds? Chapter 4 p 72-91. Blackwell Publishing. Accessed from J Stor. Functionalism. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Accessed on 21 April 2010 from http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/functionalism/ Levy Bruhl, 1931 Sargent, Margaret, 1996. The New Sociology for Australians.3rd Edition of Sociology for Australians. Longman Publishing. Whorf, Benjamin, 1954. Source unknown. As cited in “Do people in Different Cultures Live in Different Worlds”? -------------------------------------------- [ 4 ]. S. Lukes, 'Relativism in its Place ', Rationality and Relativism, M. Hollis and S. Lukes (eds) (Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1982). [ 11 ]. S. Lukes, Power (London: Macmillan, 1974). [ 12 ]. S. Lukes, 'Relativism in its Place ', Rationality and Relativism, M. Hollis and S. Lukes (eds) (Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1982) [ 13 ] [ 14 ]. S. Lukes, 'Relativism in its Place ', Rationality and Relativism, M. Hollis and S. Lukes (eds) (Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1982).

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful