Principles and Policies: What Can We Learn from Popper's "Piecemeal Social Engineering" for Ideal and Nonideal Theory?. (July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Stelzer, Harald
• Other Names: Neck Reinhard guest-editor.; Miller David guest-editor.; Birner Jack guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Philosophy of the social sciences. Volume 46:Number 4(2016:Sep.)
• Page Start: 375
• Page End: 391
• Publication Date: 2016-07
• Subjects: piecemeal social engineering -- Karl Popper -- fallibilism -- ideal and nonideal theory -- open society; Social sciences -- Periodicals; Social sciences -- Methodology -- Periodicals; Sciences sociales -- Périodiques; Sciences sociales -- Méthodologie -- Périodiques; 300.1
• DOI: 10.1177/0048393116639226
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0048-3931

Abstract

Even though social engineering has gained a bad reputation, due to new possibilities in the information age, it may be time to reconsider Karl Popper's conception of "piecemeal social engineering." Piecemeal social engineering is not only an element within Popper's open society. It also connects his political philosophy to his philosophy of science and his evolutionary epistemology. Furthermore, it seems to fit well into the search for implementation strategies for policies and social actions in the context of nonideal theory. Nevertheless, this does not necessarily undermine the need for political ideals and first-order principles, which are inhabitants of "World 3."