Sociology Class 7: Methodological Debates

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Questions and Answers

What is meant by scientism in the context of Enlightenment thought?

The confiscation of key terms such as reason, experience, objective knowledge, and truth, and redefining them in the sense of naturalism and the scientific method.

How does the scientific method reduce knowledge in understanding human existence?

By reducing knowledge to an understanding of human existence typical of the natural sciences, which is reductionist and limited.

What is the significance of the masters of suspicion in the context of classical sociology?

They challenged Enlightenment thought and paved the way for the development of classical sociology.

What is methodology in the context of sociology?

The study of the principles and procedures of scientific inquiry in sociology. Signup and view all the answers

What are the three major methodological directions in sociology discussed in this class?

Positivism, Interpretivism, and Critique. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main limitation of the scientific discourse of Enlightenment thought?

It reduces knowledge to an understanding of human existence typical of the natural sciences, which is limiting. Signup and view all the answers

What is epistemology, and how does it relate to ontology?

Epistemology is the theory of knowledge, and it relates to ontology, which is the theory of reality, or everything that exists. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main concern with methodological debates in the social sciences?

The main concern is how to bring together epistemology and ontology in studying the human world. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main flaw in the scientism perspective, according to the text?

Human beings are presumed to be outside of reality when in fact they are part of it. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of sociology in understanding modern societies?

Sociology is par excellence the science of modern societies, making it essential in understanding these societies. Signup and view all the answers

How are methodological debates in sociology influenced by their historical context?

Methodological debates in sociology are situated historically, and thus in conversation with their own time. Signup and view all the answers

What concept is challenged by the notion that human beings are part of reality, not outside of it?

Fact-value distinction Signup and view all the answers

What is the contradiction at the heart of methodological debates in sociology?

The contradiction lies in combining a normative, modernising approach with claims of a strict fact-value distinction. Signup and view all the answers

What disciplines are part of a comprehensive knowledge discourse about reality, truth, or knowledge, according to the text?

Metaphysics, theology, history, and religion Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the combination of critique, rationalism, empiricism, the scientific method, and progress?

Critical rationalism Signup and view all the answers

What is the 'modernising' agenda in sociology, and how does it relate to scientific truth claims?

The 'modernising' agenda is a normative approach that influences scientific truth claims, while pretending to maintain a fact-value distinction. Signup and view all the answers

What are the two narratives that emerged in the self-understanding of modernity?

The two narratives are the pretence of providing scientific knowledge based on a strict fact-value distinction, and the liberation of sociology and modern societies from theological and metaphysical foundations of knowledge. Signup and view all the answers

What is the outcome of fusing the founding concepts of the social sciences with the concept of progress?

A toxic social, political, and philosophical cocktail Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary concern of critical rationalism, according to the text?

Application of reason to social, economic, and political issues, with a concern for progress, emancipation, and improvement Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the Enlightenment foundations of the social sciences in shaping methodological debates?

The Enlightenment foundations of the social sciences, particularly the empiricist, rationalist, and modernising aspects, have led to a methodological cul-de-sac. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Methodological Debates in Sociology

The three major methodological directions in sociology are positivism, interpretation, and critique.
These methodologies have inherent scientific claims and limitations in their respective scientific discourses.

Scientific Limitations of Enlightenment Thought

The Enlightenment led to the confiscation of key terms like reason, experience, objective knowledge, and truth, redefining them in the sense of naturalism and the scientific method.
The Enlightenment reduction of knowledge to an understanding of human existence typical of the scientific method (natural sciences) is limited in its ability to explain human existence.
A discourse of knowledge on reality and human existence cannot be subsumed to the reductionism typical of the natural sciences.

Methodological Debates

Methodological debates in sociology address the difficulties of studying the human world (as opposed to the natural world).
These debates are situated historically, thus in conversation with their own time, and are fundamentally conditioned by philosophical – normative dispositions/moods towards modernity.
Methodological discussions about studying modern societies are inextricably linked with their own time.

Critique of Enlightenment Foundations

The empiricist, rationalist, and modernising Enlightenment foundations of the social sciences/sociology ultimately lead to a methodological cul-de-sac.
The combination of a normative, modernising approach to the underlying scientific truth claims in the study of society, while claiming a strict fact-value distinction, is contradictory.

Limitations of Scientism

Scientism presumes humans are outside of reality, whereas humans are part of reality, making the fact-value distinction untenable.
The reduction of experience to "objective knowledge" in the sense of the scientific method is ultimately untenable.
Metaphysics, theology, history, and religion are part of any encompassing knowledge discourse about reality, truth, or knowledge.

Critical Rationalism

Critical rationalism combines the application of reason to social, economic, political issues with a concern for progress, emancipation, and improvement, and is thus critical of the status quo.
The Enlightenment fused the founding concepts of the social sciences with the concept of progress, leading to a toxic social, political, and philosophical cocktail.

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Description

Explore the central tenets of positivism, interpretation, and critique in sociology, including their scientific claims and limitations. Learn through concrete examples of scientific research within each methodology.