Questions and Answers
What is positivism?
A theoretical approach that considers all understanding to be based on science.
Positivists believe that reality is subjective and can be manipulated.
False
What do positivists believe about the physical and social world?
They can be understood through observation, experimentation, and logic.
What do positivists assert about the merging of scientific disciplines over time?
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Positivists believe that there is room for value judgments in science.
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What is anti-positivism?
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According to anti-positivists, the social world can be understood solely through numbers and formulas.
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What do anti-positivists believe about the relationship between science and values?
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What is the focus of quantitative sociology?
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What is qualitative sociology?
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Study Notes
Positivism
- Positivism emphasizes knowledge from science and empirical observation.
- It rests on three key assumptions: an objective reality exists, sciences will converge, and value judgments have no place in science.
Objective and Knowable Reality
- Positivists believe in an objective reality that can be understood through observation and logic.
- Objective reality, like the existence of a chair, implies that interpretations can be wrong.
- The emphasis is on a knowable universe, with science providing definitive answers, stripping away subjective interpretations.
Convergence of Sciences
- All sciences explore a single reality, suggesting they will become more similar as research progresses.
- This may lead to a unified scientific discipline, blurring current disciplinary boundaries (e.g., biology, chemistry).
Value Neutrality in Science
- Sciences investigate identical realities from different viewpoints, rendering all scientific inquiries equally valuable.
- The ethical implications of scientific research are deemed social rather than scientific; thus, both beneficial and harmful research are considered equally significant.
Anti-Positivism
- Anti-positivism argues that knowledge stems from human subjectivity, challenging the positivist viewpoint.
Limitations of Hard Science
- Anti-positivists contend that social phenomena cannot be fully understood through quantitative data alone.
- Contextual factors, such as individual perceptions of exam scores, showcase the relative importance of statistical measures.
Unique Nature of Sciences
- Anti-positivists stress that different scientific disciplines will not amalgamate and each uniquely contributes to human understanding.
- Emotions, values, and subjective experiences are fundamental for grasping the human condition, indicating a need for diverse research realms.
Interconnection of Science and Values
- Values assess what is considered right, moral, or desirable within a culture.
- The interpretation of scientific endeavors, such as researching harmful technologies versus beneficial medical advancements, is inherently influenced by societal values.
Quantitative vs. Qualitative Sociology
- Quantitative sociology aligns with positivist views, focusing on measurable behaviors and statistics (e.g., divorce rates, crime statistics).
- Qualitative sociology corresponds with anti-positivism, emphasizing emotional and subjective human experiences (e.g., feelings related to divorce or societal perceptions of violence).
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Description
Explore the fundamental concepts and differences between positivism and anti-positivism with these flashcards. Each card delves into the definitions and core principles that characterize these philosophical approaches, guiding you through their unique perspectives on reality and knowledge.
