Philosophy of Social Sciences

In the last decade the philosophy of the social sciences has become a vibrant field with exciting research on a host of topics. It is to some of this exciting research, and the debates that provide for a context of discussion, that this course will give detailed attention. This will lead to rethinking some of the classic questions in the field as well as addressing some new emerging questions, both at the philosophical level and in an applied form: What philosophy can tell us about the social sciences? What method are used in the social science? How can social research be conducted objectively? Should research be inclusive, and to what extent? Should a democratic society promote a 'right to participate in science'?
The course will address both students whose primary interest is in philosophy and students who concentrate more on the social science side. Discussion and exchange between these two groups will be highly encouraged during classes.

a good background knowledge of the main philosophical debates about social science (past and current)
- knowledge of major perspectives of research and research methodology in social science
- knowledge of some of the main philosophical issues debated in social science and their relevance for social debate

Students should also acquire the following skills:
- to approach issues emerging from social science in a philosophically consistent and rigorous style of argument
- to single out and to be able to discuss some of the philosophical and social implications of the questions and problems raised by social science in specific practical contexts of research
- to assess the validity and relevance of philosophical arguments used in social scientific debates

No specific knowledge of the topics under investigation is expected. The course will address students with an interest in philosophy of science and social science, social methodology, facts and values, interdisciplinary research, applied ethics, science in democratic societies.

The course will start with an introduction to the field (what is a philosophy of social science) in the wider context of what it means doing science in a democratic society.
It will address a number of questions concerning how social science is carried out in practice, which conceptual issues emerge from such practice, and how theory and practice should interact in the context of a well functioning democratic society.
The questions which will be addressed will be of the following type:

1) What do we mean by a 'method of research'? what are the methods used in social science? how do they interact? how do they provide for the required evidence?
2) Is social science 'objective'? Do values interfere with objectivity, or do they enhance it?
3) How are the measurements of social phenomena formulated? How are the social categories entering such measurements formulated?
4) Should research (scientific and social) be open to the idea of making experts and laypeople collaborate in democratic societies? what is the role that the public can play in so called 'knowledge societies' in producing such knowledge?
All these questions will be addressed and pursued by means of examples and case studies.

Suggested course text: Cartwright, N and Montuschi, E. eds., Philosophy of Social Science: A New Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2014).

All Readings below available either as open access or as pdfs on Moodle:

Alexandrova, A., Fabian, M. Democratising Measurement: or Why Thick Concepts Call for Coproduction. Euro Jnl Phil Sci 12, 7 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13194-021-00437-7

Basso, A. and C. Lisciandra (2024), "Models and measurement of inequality". Contribution to the Routledge Handbook of Scientific Modelling edited by Tarja Knuuttila, Natalia Carrillo, and Rami Koskinen. [Open access].

Hacking, I., “Making up People,” London Review of Books (2006)

Kuorikoski J, Marchionni C. "Evidential Variety and Mixed-Methods Research in Social Science". Philosophy of Science. 2023;90(5):1449-1458. doi:10.1017/psa.2023.34

Massimi, M., "Local knowledges and the right to participate in science", Philosophy of Science, PSA 2024 Biennial Meeting, Proceedings. [open access]

Montuschi, E., “Scientific Objectivity,” in N. Cartwright & E. Montuschi, eds., Philosophy of Social Science: A New Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2014)

Vagelli, M., "Styles of Science and the Pluralist Turn: Between Inclusion and Exclusion" (Tome 145, 7e Série, n°3-4, (2023)) in REVUE DE SYNTHESE, vol. 3-4

Further reading will be suggested during the course and uploaded on Moodle.

Assessment will be based on:
- a class presentation (group)
- a final essay (individual)
The essay (approx 6000 words) will be on a topic related to one of those discussed during the course (but different from the topic addressed by the student during class presentation), and pre settled with the course tutor.

written and oral

30% class presentation (group)
70% final essay (individual)

The course will follow a blended format (18 hours from the classroom, 12 hours online)
It will include a mixture of: lectures, class discussions, student presentations, webinars with invited speakers, one final workshop.

Please contact the course instructor for any request of clarification concerning the course and related aspects.

The teaching language will be English.