The Objects of Social Science

Presents a clear and structured analysis of the Philosophy of Social Science across each of its main disciplines: Anthropology, Sociology, History, Economics and Geography. Using a range of examples from specific social sciences, the book both identifies the practical and theoretical procedures involved in the identification of the object and, at the same time, raises questions about the very objectivity of these procedures in analyzing the object. Introduction: Objectivity, Science And Social Science -- A Skewed Comparison -- What Model Of Science For Social Science? -- What Model Of Knowledge Of Social Science? -- What Model Of Object For Social Science? -- Chapter I: Anthropological Objects -- From Positivism To Interpretivism -- Anthropological Objects I: Cockfighting In Bali -- Anthropological Objects Ii: Witchcraft In The Bocage -- Anthropological Objects Iii: Nuer 'sacrifice And Txikao 'couvade' -- Complex Anthropological Objects -- Chapter Ii: Sociological Objects -- Received Paradigms -- Against Prescriptive Assumptions: Indexical Social Objects -- Sociological Objects: Stages Of Research And Levels Of Construction -- A Classical Example: Suicide -- Chapter Iii: Historical Objects -- The Normative View: Explaining History By Hempelian Laws -- What' Do Historians Explain? -- Quantitative And Qualitative History: Samples Of Research -- Making History In Museums -- Chapter 4: Economic Objects -- Economic Theory And Methodological Concern -- Rhetorical Objects Of Economic Practice -- Realist Objects Of Economic Practice -- The 'partial' Object Of Economics -- Chapter 5: Geographical Objects -- A Natural Or A Social Science? -- 'space And Place': Quantitative Reconstructions -- 'space And Place': Qualitative Reconstructions -- 'space And Place': Realist Reconstructions -- The Possible Worlds Of Human Geography. Eleonora Montuschi. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [147]-156) And Index.